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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian military leaders issued warnings against global tourist destinations and declared continued missile production capabilities on Friday, displaying defiance as U.S.-Israeli military operations enter their third week, having eliminated numerous high-ranking Tehran officials and damaged weapons manufacturing and energy infrastructure.

The Islamic Republic launched attacks against Israeli targets and energy facilities in neighboring Gulf nations while many Muslims observed Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam’s most sacred celebrations. Iranians simultaneously celebrated Nowruz, their traditional Persian New Year, though festivities remained more restrained than usual this year.

Limited intelligence emerging from Iran makes it difficult to assess the extent of damage to the nation’s military, nuclear, or energy infrastructure since hostilities commenced February 28, or to determine current leadership structures. However, Iran has demonstrated ongoing capacity for attacks that disrupt oil distribution and impact the worldwide economy, driving up food and fuel costs well beyond Middle Eastern borders.

American and Israeli officials have presented varying justifications for the military campaign, ranging from encouraging domestic rebellion to overthrow Iranian leadership to dismantling nuclear and missile development programs. No visible signs of popular uprising have emerged, and Iran’s remaining military capabilities and potential conflict resolution remain unclear.

Iran’s senior military spokesperson issued a Friday warning that “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” globally would face danger for Tehran’s adversaries.

Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi delivered these threats while Iran endures continued American and Israeli bombardment. The statement raises fresh worries that Iran might resume militant operations outside the Middle East as wartime leverage.

American and Israeli leadership claim weeks of bombardment have devastated Iran’s armed forces. Air campaigns have also eliminated the supreme leader, Supreme National Security Council chief, and numerous other high-level military and government officials.

Thursday saw Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assert that Iran’s naval forces were destroyed and air capabilities severely compromised, while claiming ballistic missile manufacturing had been eliminated. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard challenged the missile production claims Friday.

“We are producing missiles even during war conditions, which is amazing, and there is no particular problem in stockpiling,” spokesman Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini was quoted as saying in Iran’s state-run IRAN newspaper.

Naeini stated Iran had no plans for rapid conflict resolution. “These people expect the war to continue until the enemy is completely exhausted,” he said.

Shortly following the statement’s publication, Iranian state media reported Naeini’s death in an airstrike.

The nation’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued an uncommon declaration, stating Iran’s adversaries must have their “security” eliminated.

Khamenei has remained unseen since replacing his father, 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died in an Israeli strike on the war’s opening day.

Iran has intensified energy facility attacks across Gulf Arab nations following Israel’s bombing of Iran’s extensive South Pars offshore natural gas installation earlier this week.

Two Iranian drone waves targeted a Kuwaiti oil refinery Friday morning, igniting fires. The Mina Al-Ahmadi facility, capable of processing approximately 730,000 daily barrels, ranks among the Middle East’s largest refineries. Thursday brought another Iranian assault on the same installation.

Bahrain reported warehouse fires from intercepted projectile debris, while Saudi Arabia confirmed destroying multiple drones aimed at its oil-producing Eastern Province.

Massive explosions echoed through Dubai as defensive systems intercepted incoming attacks over the city, where residents were celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking Ramadan’s conclusion.

In Iran, many observed Nowruz despite Israel announcing fresh strikes and explosions heard over Tehran. The Persian New Year, coinciding with spring equinox, represents a southwestern Asian tradition spanning millennia.

Jerusalem also experienced loud explosions after Israeli military warnings about incoming Iranian missiles. Emergency responders treated two approximately 70-year-old individuals with minor injuries.

Beyond consistent Iranian strikes, Israel has repeatedly targeted Lebanon, focusing on Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters who have launched rockets and drones into Israeli territory.

Friday brought Israeli expansion into Syria, with officials citing infrastructure attacks responding to what they characterized as assaults on the Druze minority community. Syria’s state-operated SANA news service did not immediately confirm the attack.

Over 1,300 Iranian deaths have occurred during the conflict. Israeli operations in Lebanon have displaced more than one million residents, according to Lebanese authorities, who report over 1,000 fatalities. Israel claims eliminating more than 500 Hezbollah fighters.

Within Israel, Iranian missile attacks have killed 15 people. Four additional deaths occurred in the occupied West Bank from Iranian missile strikes.

At least 13 American military personnel have died.

Iranian energy infrastructure attacks throughout the Gulf, combined with shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial passage for one-fifth of global oil and essential goods transport—has sparked global energy crisis concerns.

Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, has surged during fighting, reaching approximately $107 in Friday morning trading, representing over 47% increase since war began.

Rising fuel costs arrive as world leaders already struggle with elevated food prices and consumer goods. Asia faces particular hardship as most Strait of Hormuz oil and gas exports flow there.

However, price impacts spread throughout the global economy. Essential raw materials—including helium for computer chip manufacturing and sulfur for fertilizer production—face supply disruptions and potential shortages, elevating costs across entire supply chains.

French naval forces seized control of an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday that officials believe is part of Russia’s covert shipping network designed to bypass international sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict.

Maritime officials identified the vessel as the Deyna, which they suspect was operating with fraudulent flag documentation. The seizure occurred in the western Mediterranean with assistance from British forces who had been tracking the ship’s movements.

“This operation aimed to verify the nationality of the vessel,” maritime authorities explained in an official statement. The tanker was displaying Mozambique’s flag while traveling from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk. Paperwork discovered during the boarding “confirmed doubts about the validity of the flag,” officials reported.

French naval personnel redirected the vessel to a secure anchorage location for additional inspection, and the matter has been forwarded to prosecutors in Marseille for potential legal action.

President Emmanuel Macron identified the Deyna as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” in a social media statement.

“These vessels, which circumvent international sanctions and violate the law of the sea, are war profiteers. They seek to generate profits and finance Russia’s war effort,” Macron declared. “We won’t let this happen.”

Intelligence estimates suggest Russia operates hundreds of ships to dodge sanctions related to its military campaign in Ukraine. France and allied nations have pledged to intensify enforcement efforts against these operations.

This marks the third such incident involving French forces in recent months. In January, France’s navy stopped another Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean, which was eventually released after paying millions in penalties. Last September, French naval personnel boarded a different tanker off the Atlantic coast that Macron also connected to the shadow fleet operation. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned that earlier action as maritime piracy.

LONDON — Three men who survived bombings carried out by the Irish Republican Army in England withdrew their civil lawsuit against former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams on Friday.

The case was dismissed on what should have been the final day of a two-week trial at London’s High Court. Attorney Anne Studd, representing the three plaintiffs, told the court the lawsuit would be withdrawn following “proceedings developed overnight.” She indicated the decision stemmed from issues surrounding “abuse of process.”

The lawsuit accused Adams of bearing direct responsibility and complicity in Provisional IRA decisions to carry out bombings in England during 1973 and 1996. The men were seeking symbolic damages of 1 pound ($1.34).

Adams, age 77, testified during the proceedings but was absent from court Friday when the case was dropped. He quickly issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the plaintiffs’ decision.

“I attended the civil case out of respect for them,” he said in a statement. “This decision brings to an emphatic end, a case that should never have been brought.”

Adams stands as one of Northern Ireland’s most significant figures during decades of sectarian violence. He served as head of the IRA-associated political organization Sinn Féin from 1983 through 2018 and played a key role in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement. While he has consistently rejected claims of IRA membership, some former associates have identified him as a senior leader.

The three plaintiffs alleged Adams served on the IRA’s governing Army Council and bore equal responsibility with those who physically planted explosives during “the Troubles,” three decades of violence involving Irish republican militants, British loyalist groups, and U.K. military forces. The conflict claimed approximately 3,600 lives, primarily in Northern Ireland, though the IRA also conducted bombing campaigns in England.

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

During testimony, the three men explained they had not pursued legal action previously because they were unaware of their options, lacked financial resources, dealt with physical or mental injuries, and worried about violent retaliation.

Adams has never faced criminal charges related to these bombings or been detained on suspicion of involvement. Authorities charged him with IRA membership in 1978, but prosecutors later abandoned the case due to insufficient evidence.

Last year, Adams secured a 100,000 pound ($116,000) libel judgment against the BBC regarding claims in a television documentary that he had authorized the execution of an informant within the Irish republican movement.

Spanish authorities have determined that the death of an Illinois college student who vanished during a spring break trip to Barcelona appears to be accidental, regional police announced Friday.

Twenty-year-old James “Jimmy” Gracey, a University of Alabama student from Elmhurst, Illinois, was discovered Thursday afternoon in coastal waters near a Barcelona beach. The location was close to where he had last been spotted with friends outside a local nightclub early Tuesday morning.

According to a representative from Catalonia’s regional police force, investigators believe “all signs point” to an accidental death for the young man. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause.

Gracey disappeared around 3 a.m. Tuesday after leaving the Shoko nightclub. He failed to return to his shared rental accommodation, prompting concern from his travel companions. Authorities later located his mobile phone. The student’s hometown of Elmhurst sits approximately 19 miles west of Chicago.

The grieving family released a public statement requesting prayers and privacy during this difficult period.

“Our family is heartbroken as we confirm that Jimmy’s body has been recovered in Barcelona. Jimmy was a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, and our family is struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss,” the statement said.

The Spanish coastal city attracts millions of international tourists annually and maintains a reputation for safety, particularly when compared to major American metropolitan areas. Petty theft typically represents the primary concern for visitors to the Mediterranean destination.

Barcelona’s seaside areas remain easily accessible from the city’s core, making them particularly attractive to younger travelers. The location where Gracey spent his final evening features numerous dining establishments and entertainment venues popular with both residents and tourists.

Speaking to reporters before official confirmation of the death, Gracey’s aunt described her nephew as “just a great kid, a good Catholic boy from the Midwest.”

University of Alabama officials expressed their sorrow in an official statement, saying the campus community “is heartbroken to learn of the death of Jimmy Gracey.”

“Jimmy’s loss is deeply felt across our campus. Our condolences are with the Gracey family during this devastating time,” the university added.

Moscow is moving forward with comprehensive regulations that could block major international artificial intelligence platforms from operating within Russian borders, according to newly released government documents.

The Russian Ministry for Digital Development has outlined proposed rules targeting AI services including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini if these platforms cannot meet Moscow’s compliance requirements. Officials say the measures aim to expand Russia’s efforts to create an independent internet infrastructure free from outside influence while upholding what authorities describe as “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.”

Ministry officials stated the proposed framework is intended to “help protect citizens from covert manipulation and discriminatory algorithms.”

The regulatory plan is expected to favor domestically developed AI systems created by Russian companies like state-owned Sberbank and tech firm Yandex. This initiative comes as Moscow continues expanding government oversight of internet services within the country.

Following additional review and official approval, these rules are anticipated to take effect in the coming year.

According to the proposed regulations: “The operation of cross-border artificial intelligence technologies may be prohibited or restricted in cases specified by the legislation of the Russian Federation.”

State media outlet RIA reported Friday that international AI platforms would be subject to these new requirements because they inherently transfer Russian users’ information outside the country’s borders.

Technology attorney Kirill Dyakov explained to RIA that “Cross-border artificial intelligence technologies refers to all foreign AI models, including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, where the use of such models results in user data, queries and dialogues being transmitted to the developers of these models outside Russia.”

The three AI systems Dyakov referenced were created by American companies: OpenAI developed ChatGPT, Anthropic created Claude, and Google parent company Alphabet built Gemini.

However, Dyakov noted that other international open-source AI technologies, including China’s Qwen and DeepSeek platforms, could potentially operate within closed systems using Russian infrastructure belonging to government agencies and domestic businesses, since user information would remain within those networks.

Under the proposed regulatory framework, AI platforms serving more than 500,000 daily users would be required to maintain Russian citizen data on servers located within the country for a three-year period, according to RIA’s reporting. Western technology companies have historically declined to comply with similar data localization requirements.

France’s top diplomat delivered a sobering assessment Friday following discussions with Israeli leadership, stating that the ongoing Middle East crisis shows no clear path to resolution in the near future.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot acknowledged the challenging reality during a press briefing with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar near Tel Aviv, emphasizing that despite the bleak outlook, diplomatic efforts must continue.

“There is no obvious short-term way out of the ongoing regional escalation, which has in some ways been unfolding since October 7, 2023. But this must in no way serve as a pretext for inaction,” Barrot stated to assembled journalists.

The gravity of the situation became immediately apparent when Iranian missiles streaked toward Israel as the minister prepared to address reporters, forcing Barrot, his delegation, and media personnel to seek shelter as warning sirens wailed across the area.

The French official’s visit to Israel followed his Thursday trip to Lebanon, where he worked to promote ceasefire negotiations and reduce regional tensions. France maintains deep historical connections with Lebanon and has partnered with the United States in mediation efforts since Iran-backed Hezbollah began launching attacks against Israel.

During his meetings, Barrot conveyed France’s concerns regarding potential Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon while emphasizing that Lebanese forces must take all necessary steps to disarm Hezbollah, as the Lebanese government has demanded.

However, Israeli officials have dismissed Beirut’s offer for direct negotiations, viewing it as insufficient given the timing and circumstances, according to sources familiar with the discussions. These sources indicate that while Lebanon’s government shares Israel’s goal of disarming Hezbollah, officials fear that confronting the group could spark civil conflict.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who held talks with Barrot on Thursday, has indicated readiness to engage in direct discussions with Israel. This comes as Israel continues conducting airstrikes in Lebanon following Hezbollah’s March 2 attack on Israeli territory, while Hezbollah has dismissed diplomatic overtures and maintained its military operations.

Recent diplomatic activity has seen France proposing alternative solutions to American-led peace initiatives, though three diplomatic sources report that Washington has shown limited enthusiasm for the French proposals. Israel has reportedly rejected these suggestions entirely while discussions with U.S. officials continue.

Chinese foreign ministry officials issued a plea Friday for immediate cessation of Middle East hostilities, expressing alarm over the conflict’s growing impact on worldwide commerce, energy supplies, and shipping lanes after nearly three weeks of fighting.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian addressed the escalating situation as Muslim communities worldwide conclude Ramadan observances. “History and reality have repeatedly shown the world that force is not the solution to problems and armed conflict will only breed new hatred,” Lin stated during a ministry briefing.

Beijing’s diplomatic representative described the expanding Middle East conflict as damaging to shared global interests, reaffirming China’s stance that all parties must halt military actions while ensuring uninterrupted energy distribution from the region.

The Chinese statement coincided with the 23rd commemoration of the Iraq War’s beginning, when coalition forces led by the United States launched their 2003 invasion to remove Saddam Hussein from power, based partially on allegations his regime maintained weapons of mass destruction.

The Iraq intervention resulted in prolonged regional turmoil and governmental collapse, ultimately creating conditions that enabled the emergence of ISIS terrorist operations.

Current Middle East tensions present Beijing with mixed consequences, according to policy experts. While the crisis allows China to position itself as a more dependable global partner, rising energy prices pose threats to Chinese manufacturing and could spark domestic inflation if hostilities persist.

The regional instability also jeopardizes President Xi Jinping’s signature Belt and Road development program, which relies on Middle Eastern corridors to transport Chinese exports to markets across the Gulf region, North Africa, and Europe during a period when domestic consumer demand remains weak.

Military actions have resulted in postponing a planned summit between Xi and President Donald Trump by approximately six weeks. The delayed China visit had been viewed as an opportunity to improve strained relations between the economic superpowers following disputes over American trade tariffs.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned Friday that his administration may implement additional measures targeting Ukraine to force the restart of Russian oil shipments that have been halted to Hungary and Slovakia since the beginning of the year.

During a media briefing in Brussels following his decision to obstruct a 90-billion euro ($104-billion) European Union aid package for Ukraine, Orbán declared that his administration possesses “a lot of cards in our hands” beyond preventing the financial assistance that Kyiv requires for military equipment and economic stability.

“We have other tools as well,” he stated. “Forty percent of Ukraine’s electricity supply goes through Hungary, we haven’t touched that yet. (The EU) constantly wants to introduce new sanctions (against Russia). That will require unanimity, and we will not give it.”

Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks, creating an intense dispute over Hungary’s ability to receive Russian oil via a pipeline running through Ukrainian land.

The flow of oil through the Druzhba pipeline was disrupted following what Ukraine described as Russian drone attacks that damaged pipeline facilities. Hungarian officials have blamed Ukraine for intentionally establishing an “oil blockade” to prevent Russian crude deliveries, and have vowed to oppose all EU assistance to Kyiv until the shipments restart.

Hungary and Slovakia, both governed by leaders who maintain friendly ties with the Kremlin, remain the sole EU nations still receiving Russian oil imports.

In a bid to convince Orbán to remove his opposition to the loan, EU representatives announced Tuesday that the bloc had provided Ukraine with technical assistance and funding to fix the pipeline, which Kyiv has agreed to accept.

On Friday, Orbán also warned he would reject the EU’s upcoming seven-year budget if it contains aid for Ukraine, stating: “We have a lot of cards in our hands, so I don’t think it’s worth picking a fight with Hungary.”

European Union leaders criticized Orbán Thursday for his obstruction of Ukrainian aid, claiming he is blocking essential assistance and weakening EU decision-making processes to gain electoral advantage domestically.

With Orbán confronting what analysts predict will be his most competitive election on April 12, he has intensified an anti-Ukraine strategy that depicts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a fundamental danger to Hungary.

He has claimed that the Ukrainian president, together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeks to pull Hungary into Russia’s conflict, now in its fifth year, and has maintained that his re-election represents the sole path to peace and stability.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has dispatched an official team to the United States as he works to revive stalled peace discussions aimed at ending Russia’s military campaign against his nation. Meanwhile, a top Russian government official suggested Friday that fresh U.S.-facilitated negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv may happen in the near future.

The three-way discussions, which haven’t achieved any major breakthroughs on critical matters, have been suspended as the Iran conflict has captured global focus.

Zelensky wants to rebuild progress in the diplomatic process and announced Thursday evening that he had dispatched officials to America for what’s anticipated to be a Saturday gathering. The White House has not verified any such meeting.

Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow will not participate in those discussions. He noted that timing and location for fresh three-party negotiations remain undecided.

“The pause is temporary, we hope it’s temporary regarding the continuation of the trilateral format,” he said.

Western European leaders have consistently criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin over the past year for stalling in diplomatic efforts while attempting to leverage his larger military’s combat advantage and seize additional Ukrainian territory. Russian troops currently occupy almost 20% of Ukraine.

The recent Middle East crisis that started February 28 with Israeli and American attacks on Iran has shifted global focus away from Ukraine’s situation.

Simultaneously, Russia benefits from a temporary American exemption on petroleum sanctions while Ukraine faces severe financial constraints and continues awaiting a 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) loan commitment from the European Union.

Kyiv may also receive fewer sophisticated air defense systems needed to counter Russian aerial bombardments as the Iran conflict depletes available supplies.

Putin is widely anticipated to begin fresh military campaigns as Ukraine’s weather conditions improve, creating additional challenges for Kyiv.

Ukraine has emerged as a major global manufacturer of combat-proven drone defense systems, and Zelensky hopes to offer technical knowledge to Arab Gulf nations facing Iranian Shahed attacks in return for air defense weaponry.

A group of high-ranking Ukrainian representatives has traveled to the Gulf area recently.

“There is an understanding of what new security agreements can be reached with countries in the region,” Zelensky said in an evening address on Thursday.

QUSHTAPA, Iraq (AP) — Displaced as children from Iran decades ago, thousands of Kurdish refugees now living in Iraq maintain cautious optimism that ongoing conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel could destabilize the Iranian government that drove them from their homeland.

These Iranian Kurds cling to dreams of returning to ancestral homes they know only through wall paintings and aging family photos displayed in their current dwellings.

However, these thousands of displaced people understand that their desire for political independence and their long-standing resistance to Iran’s religious leadership make a safe return improbable. They insist they will only return home if Iran gets a new government that ensures their protection and supports their political objectives.

More than 300 families live in Kawa Camp, located in the Qushtapa district of Irbil within northern Iraq’s self-governing Kurdish territory. These families were forced from their homes following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, which triggered prolonged warfare with Kurdish independence movements.

Many current residents descend from those original fighters. As children, they escaped with their families from Kermanshah, a northern Iranian province. Some later joined resistance movements while in exile, launching attacks against Iranian security personnel. Most now struggle economically on the fringes of Iraqi Kurdish society, lacking citizenship, full legal rights, access to public services, or property ownership rights.

At Kawa Camp, residents’ hopes for homecoming are clouded by profound distrust of international powers that have repeatedly used their struggle for strategic purposes. Many interpreted recent reports about the Trump administration potentially asking for their support in ground operations against Iran as another example of such exploitation.

“From 1979 until now, this has been our only hope — that the regime will fall. I’m watching the clock; if it falls now, I’ll return home the next second,” said a 57-year-old member of the Iranian Kurdish opposition party living in Kawa, who fled Iran at age 11.

This individual, like most people interviewed for this report, requested anonymity due to concerns about retaliation from Iran-supported Iraqi militias that have increased attacks on Iranian Kurdish installations. They also worry about Iranian intelligence surveillance, as many still have family members living in Iran.

Iraqi Kurds control a semi-independent region in northern Iraq. Many have conducted insurgency operations aimed at creating their own nation, which they call Kurdistan. Iranian Kurds have extensive historical complaints against both the Islamic Republic and the monarchy that came before it.

Community leader Jehangir Ahmadi displays a painting of a street from his birth village in Iran’s predominantly Kurdish Kermanshah province, which shares a border with Iraq. He hasn’t visited that street in almost five decades, and his childhood memories play like vintage footage: He remembers playing among those dusty walls while village elders would gather under the poplar trees.

Ahmadi recalls the frantic escape from home and the lengthy wait to cross the border. His family initially stayed in a border camp before relocating to another facility in the desert regions of western Anbar province. Security conditions worsened dramatically after Saddam Hussein’s overthrow during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, leading the United Nations to relocate them again.

Through the years, temporary shelters were replaced with permanent housing, marketplaces developed, and the Iranian Kurds gained employment rights, with many working as traders, cab drivers and factory employees. However, purchasing property or vehicles requires finding an Iraqi guarantor who must accept legal responsibility for them, essentially binding their futures to that guarantor, Ahmadi explained.

“For all our lives in Iraq we were paying the price of leaving. Until now people look at us like we are slaves,” Ahmadi said. “Until now we don’t have good work, no good place to live.”

According to Ahmadi, Kurds, particularly Iran’s Kurdish population, have consistently been victims throughout history. He cited the brief Republic of Mahabad in northwestern Iran, which had Soviet backing before collapsing in 1976; Iran’s 1975 withdrawal of support for a failed Kurdish rebellion against Iraq; Iraq’s 1988 chemical weapon attacks against Kurds; and territorial losses in northeast Syria following President Bashar Assad’s December 2024 downfall.

Therefore, Ahmadi expressed doubt about the reported U.S. request for backing an Iranian Kurdish military force in the current conflict.

“We didn’t trust that they will support us because we are wounded nation, we have been betrayed many times,” he said.

Iranian Kurdish opposition militias operating from Iraq have faced attacks from Iran’s Iraqi allies since the Iran conflict began.

Military leaders and Iraqi Kurdish politicians report they lack the capability to launch a genuine ground assault without U.S. air support, and that the concept proposed by the United States was never formally discussed with Washington.

A high-ranking Iraqi Kurdish official revealed that some Iranian Kurdish organizations initially anticipated Iran’s religious government would quickly collapse and planned to advance into Iranian Kurdish regions to claim victory. Other Iraqi Kurdish leaders, viewing Tehran’s administration as more durable, gave them a stark warning: “You will be massacred,” according to the official.

Unit commander Rebaz Sharifi took cover in a mountain crevice when Iran-backed militias launched a drone attack on a Kurdistan Freedom Party base, waiting for additional strikes to end. The party is an Iranian-Kurdish nationalist independence organization known locally as PAK.

Sharifi reported there are approximately 8,000 to 10,000 Iranian Kurdish fighters — a number confirmed by two other Iraqi Kurdish officials. Apart from standard assault weapons, they lack advanced modern armaments and do not have drones, which are essential in contemporary warfare.

He stated that Iranian-Kurdish organizations are requesting security assurances, particularly air protection, to defend against Iranian rockets and drones.

“We don’t want to go now because we know we will die because of (Iranian) airstrikes and missiles,” he said. “It’s not the right time for this because Iranian forces still have power to control the skies.”

At just the possibility that these groups might prepare for deployment, Iran-backed forces in Iraq began launching almost daily aerial bombardments.

“So, imagine what they will do if we move there now,” Sharifi said.

The danger of ongoing attacks forced Kurdish fighters to relocate their families from military installations to nearby towns for protection.

In Kawa, a local resident connected to the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan is providing shelter for a fighter’s wife and children from the party’s military branch. They relocated from the party’s Koya camp near the border due to persistent attacks during the war’s initial days.

The militia drone strikes haven’t targeted civilian areas yet, but the party member worries this could change as the conflict continues.

“Every day we are afraid of the militias,” he said. “We are nervous at night because we think they might hit here also.”

He also fears Iranian intelligence operations in the region.

“My relatives in Iran told me that they know where I work, what I do, and where I live,” he said.

OSLO, Norway (AP) — In her first public discussion about the controversial connection, Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit revealed she felt manipulated and unsafe during interactions with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, particularly during a 2013 visit to his Florida estate in Palm Beach.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wife of Crown Prince Haakon who is next in line for Norway’s throne, participated in a 20-minute television interview Thursday with Norwegian network NRK alongside her husband. The interview took place on the same day her son Marius Borg Høiby’s criminal trial wrapped up.

Høiby, the crown princess’s child from an earlier relationship, faces rape charges that he has denied. Prosecutors are requesting a sentence of seven years and seven months imprisonment. The court’s decision is anticipated in early June.

While Thursday’s NRK broadcast didn’t reveal any shocking new information, it represented the royal couple’s first formal media appearance to discuss the controversy surrounding the crown princess’s connection to Epstein. Although her association with him has prompted criticism of her decision-making, she faces no criminal allegations.

The interview’s duration was shortened because of Mette-Marit’s medical condition — she suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that severely impacts breathing.

The crown princess had previously issued an apology for placing the royal family in a difficult position. Her initial meeting with the American financier occurred in 2011, with their communication extending through 2014. Documents related to Epstein referenced the crown princess hundreds of times, and she expressed regret about their association in 2019.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while facing trial for sexually abusing minors at his U.S. residences. Speaking to NRK, Mette-Marit stated she was unaware of his criminal behavior and abuse, noting she only observed his interactions with adults and never saw illegal activity.

During the interview, she expressed feelings of responsibility toward Epstein’s victims and revealed she has spent years reflecting on their connection and the accusations against him. She acknowledged failing to properly investigate his background.

Released documents containing email correspondence between the pair suggested what appeared to be a close friendship to some observers. In one electronic message, Mette-Marit told Epstein, “you tickle my brain.”

During October 2012, Epstein mentioned in an email that he was in Paris “on my wife hunt.” The crown princess responded that Paris was “good for adultery” but “Scandis” made “better wife material.”

Additional email exchanges revealed that Mette-Marit used an Epstein-owned Florida property in Palm Beach for several days in 2013. She explained the arrangement came through a shared acquaintance, and it was during this stay that she experienced the troubling encounter that prompted her to telephone Haakon back in Norway.

Though she refused to provide additional details during the NRK interview, she explained that she maintained contact with Epstein afterward because she was naive and had fallen victim to his manipulation.

ROME (AP) — Umberto Bossi, who established Italy’s Northern League party and emerged as one of the nation’s most impactful yet controversial political personalities, passed away Wednesday at 84 years old, according to his party.

Political leaders from across Italy responded quickly to news of his passing. President Sergio Mattarella honored him as “a passionate political leader and sincere democrat,” while Premier Giorgia Meloni recognized his “fundamental contribution” to creating Italy’s first modern center-right coalition.

Starting from humble beginnings, Bossi built a political movement that transformed Italy’s postwar political scene. Beginning in the late 1980s, he became the spokesperson for northern Italy’s frustrated taxpayers, turning regional complaints into a populist campaign focused on independence and sometimes complete separation from the south.

His famous populist phrase “Roma ladrona” (Thieving Rome) captured his criticism of the corrupt central government and became a battle cry for disappointed voters across a generation.

Bossi was born September 19, 1941, in Cassano Magnago, a small industrial town in northern Italy’s manufacturing region. He officially began his national political career in 1987, gaining the nickname “Il Senatùr” (the Senator in Lombard dialect) when he joined Italy’s senate.

Throughout the following years, he successfully grew the Northern League from a small regional organization into a major national political power, creating partnerships — and unexpected breaks — with late center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi.

Under Berlusconi’s government, he held ministerial positions twice, focusing on institutional reform while advancing his lifelong goal of national federalism.

Bossi’s legacy remains complicated: supporters viewed him as a visionary while critics saw him as a divisive populist, but everyone agrees he was a major figure whose ideas and aggressive political approach permanently changed modern Italian politics.

His appearance in a white tank top during summer 1994 became a legendary moment in Italian political history, deliberately contrasting with the polished image of his political partner-turned-opponent Berlusconi. This image became a lasting representation of his straightforward, “common man” approach.

A severe stroke in 2004 greatly impacted Bossi’s health, though he stayed involved in politics for many years following his recovery.

In 2012, he resigned from party leadership after a controversy involving misused party money, but he maintained his influence as the movement’s founding figure, despite tensions with current party leader Matteo Salvini.

Legislation that would eliminate criminal penalties for abortion procedures throughout pregnancy is making progress through the British Parliament. The House of Lords had the opportunity to support an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would have stripped out the decriminalization provisions, but chose not to act.

The Christian Institute’s Simon Calvert criticized British legislators, stating they have “shown little regard for public opinion and have dehumanised the unborn to a shocking new degree.”

As nationwide demonstrations swept across Iran in late 2025, Shayan Ghadimi watched her 70-year-old mother make a fateful decision to travel from Paris back to their homeland to witness the historic uprising firsthand.

Now, months later, that separation weighs heavily on the family as they struggle to maintain contact through violent government suppression and ongoing military conflict. For Iranian communities worldwide, the traditionally joyous Persian New Year celebration of Nowruz has become a time of profound worry rather than celebration.

Ghadimi’s elderly mother had been following the early demonstrations on television from Paris. “We could see the market closed, the people in the street. She said, ‘I want to be there,’” the 41-year-old restaurant owner explained while preparing meals in her aromatic Paris eatery.

“Now, she is all alone at home, with no way to stay in contact, watching the sky. I cannot imagine the state she is in,” Ghadimi shared.

The impact extends far beyond individual families. A Paris-based Iranian cultural organization that previously hosted musical performances for Nowruz has declared itself in mourning this year. Similarly, Iranian American groups across the United States have either called off their celebrations entirely or dramatically reduced their scope.

The holiday known as Nowruz, meaning “new day” in the Persian language, traditionally aligns with the spring equinox and is observed across a vast region spanning from Afghanistan to Turkey. People of various religious backgrounds within Iranian communities celebrate this ancient Zoroastrian festival, which traces its origins back thousands of years, despite periodic attempts by religious conservatives to discourage the practice.

Shakiba Edighoffer, while shopping for traditional Nowruz ingredients, described the emotional turmoil she and fellow Iranians experience as military operations continue. Israel and the United States have launched attacks targeting Iran’s government officials and armed forces, while the Islamic Republic has responded by launching missiles and unmanned aircraft toward Israel and neighboring Gulf nations.

“You hear news about this or that leader of the Islamic Republic being eliminated … about executions or bombings,” explained Edighoffer, who works as a makeup artist.

The near-complete breakdown of communication networks has transformed attempts to check on relatives and friends enduring bombardments into anxiety-inducing ordeals.

“I had a friend who managed to connect very briefly on Instagram a few days ago, but I think it’s been about 20 days now since the war started, and that was really the only time I was able to speak with him a little,” Edighoffer noted.

Despite the circumstances, she emphasized the importance of maintaining cultural traditions. Observing Nowruz alongside family and friends “helps us cope, at least a little, with the psychological pressure,” she explained. “All these oppressors want is for us to be sad, to forget our millennia-old Persian and Iranian traditions. We must not give them that victory.”

Among the customers visiting Ghadimi’s restaurant for traditional grilled meat dishes and seasoned rice, opinions about the conflict’s potential outcomes vary dramatically. Some express hope that the warfare might herald positive change, while others focus solely on the casualties and devastation caused by Israeli and American military strikes.

“I have people in tears. I have people who cry for joy. They say, ‘Did you see? They are coming. We are going to be saved.’ Others say, ‘Our country is being destroyed,’” she observed.

Communication with her mother has been severely limited since her January departure for Iran, with only two successful phone conversations occurring during the entire period.

“Quite honestly, I don’t try anymore. Because it stresses me out, if I try calling and can’t get hold of her,” she admitted. “My sister calls 100 times a day and can’t reach her.”

Her mother had originally purchased a round-trip ticket and promised to return in time for the Nowruz celebration.

However, during their most recent conversation approximately one week ago, her mother revealed that those plans had shifted. Having witnessed the 1979 Islamic Revolution firsthand, she expressed determination to remain and observe Iran’s unfolding political transformation.

“I am staying here until the end,” her mother declared.

COPENHAGEN – Danish voters will cast ballots Tuesday in a national election overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s ongoing campaign to acquire Greenland, the Arctic territory home to 57,000 residents that has remained under Danish control for hundreds of years.

The following chronology outlines key developments in the international standoff:

2019

Trump unexpectedly floated purchasing Greenland from Denmark during his initial presidency, prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to dismiss the idea as “absurd.”

The president canceled his scheduled Denmark trip, describing Frederiksen’s response as “nasty.”

JANUARY 2025

Before his inauguration, Trump declined to eliminate the possibility of employing military or economic pressure to gain control of Greenland.

Donald Trump Jr. visited the territory, claiming residents “will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation.”

MARCH 2025

The victorious Demokraatit party in Greenland’s elections promised to deepen relationships with Denmark.

Vice President JD Vance criticized Denmark’s security efforts regarding Greenland.

DECEMBER 2025

Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special representative to “lead the charge” concerning Greenland.

JANUARY 4-6, 2026

Following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Trump declared “we do need Greenland,” with administration officials confirming the president was considering various approaches, including possible military action.

JANUARY 9

“We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour,” Trump stated to journalists.

JANUARY 14-15

Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen met with Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, declaring that Danish and Greenlandic independence remained non-negotiable.

Multiple European nations including Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands deployed military personnel to Greenland as a show of solidarity and deterrence.

White House officials indicated that European troop deployments would not influence Trump’s strategy.

JANUARY 17-19

Trump threatened escalating tariffs against European partners until America could purchase Greenland, causing market volatility and dollar weakness.

European Union leadership cautioned against a “dangerous downward spiral.”

JANUARY 21

At the Davos forum, Trump unexpectedly retreated from tariff threats, eliminated force as an option, and indicated a resolution might be near.

The president announced that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had “formed the framework of a future deal.”

Financial markets rebounded and oil prices dropped as confidence returned.

Reuters learned from sources that Rutte and Trump agreed to continue discussions between America, Denmark and Greenland regarding modifications to a 1951 military access accord.

JANUARY 28

Official diplomatic negotiations commenced among the United States, Greenland and Denmark.

FEBRUARY 11

NATO initiated an Arctic presence enhancement mission as part of tension reduction efforts.

FEBRUARY 21-22

Trump announced a U.S. medical vessel was “on the way” to Greenland “to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there.” Greenland’s prime minister rejected the ship, saying “no thanks.”

FEBRUARY 26

Frederiksen announced Denmark’s parliamentary election would occur March 24.

A comprehensive investigation into last year’s historic power failure across Spain and Portugal has revealed that numerous system breakdowns combined to create Europe’s most severe electrical grid collapse in more than two decades.

The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) released its final analysis Friday, detailing how the April 28th incident unfolded when voltage control systems failed to respond properly, triggering widespread power plant shutdowns across the Iberian Peninsula.

The blackout left millions of residents in Spain and Portugal without electricity for as long as 16 hours, marking the first incident of this magnitude in the region’s history.

According to the investigation, several critical issues contributed to the cascade failure. Traditional power facilities including coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants failed to regulate voltage levels as grid operators had anticipated under standard operating procedures. Additionally, some voltage control systems required manual operation, creating dangerous delays during the emergency.

The report also identified that protective equipment designed to disconnect during voltage spikes was not properly calibrated according to established safety standards.

Investigators noted that Spain’s electrical grid operates with broader voltage tolerance ranges compared to other European nations, leaving minimal safety margins between normal operations and automatic shutoff thresholds.

The study further suggested that coordination problems with power connections to France may have worsened the situation as it developed.

“The analyses above clearly indicate that the key phenomenon in the incident was the non-effectiveness of voltage control within the Spanish power system,” the report’s summary said.

Researchers encountered obstacles during their investigation when power plant operators claimed they lacked essential data needed to explain some of the initial generation failures that occurred in Spain.

To prevent similar widespread outages, the report recommends enhanced monitoring systems for electrical networks and improved communication protocols between utilities and grid operators throughout the region.

The investigation was designed to identify systemic problems and propose solutions rather than assign responsibility for the incident.

BEIRUT (AP) — Following Israel’s assassination of a senior Iranian Basij commander earlier this week, the military launched additional attacks targeting lower-level members of the notorious force that helped suppress major demonstrations this year. An Israeli drone destroyed one of numerous temporary roadblocks the Basij had established throughout Tehran, the Iranian capital.

According to Israeli and American officials, their ongoing bombardment campaign seeks to dismantle the Islamic Republic’s mechanisms for internal suppression. The military offensive, now approaching its third week, has seen monitoring organizations estimate that approximately one-third of all attacks have focused on senior leadership and major installations of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its volunteer Basij units responsible for maintaining allegiance to Iran’s religious government.

Israeli forces recently expanded their targeting to include Basij security checkpoints, putting lower-ranking personnel at risk. However, the Basij, police forces, and Revolutionary Guard continue to maintain control, with no evidence of Iranians responding to American and Israeli encouragement for revolt, as citizens instead seek shelter from aerial bombardments and ongoing instability.

Tehran residents report that security personnel continue to maintain a threatening presence throughout the city. War monitoring groups indicate that an escalated suppression campaign, which started with January’s nationwide protest crackdown, persists and frequently targets individuals who record footage of strikes or attempt to circumvent weeks-long internet restrictions to communicate externally.

Israel’s strategy may seek to damage Basiji morale and encourage desertion or service refusal. The campaign could also embolden numerous Iranians who remain outraged over the thousands killed during January’s violent suppression. In early March, Israeli military forces broadcast a message in Farsi encouraging Basiji mothers to “save their children” by urging them to abandon their weapons.

However, according to Hamidreza Azizi, an authority on Iran’s security and foreign policy, Basijis maintain strong ideological commitment and represent “the most decentralized force within an already highly decentralized system.”

Azizi explained that Israel’s elimination of top commander Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani on Tuesday morning will probably not significantly impact the organization. The Basij leadership position is selected based on “ideological rigidity and demonstrated loyalty to the supreme leader” rather than technical competence, serving a primarily symbolic function.

“In most cases, Basij units operate autonomously or semiautonomously, particularly in operational matters,” Azizi stated.

Throughout Tehran, Basij security checkpoints have multiplied, typically consisting of simple traffic cone barriers and several vehicles. One local resident reported five or six new checkpoints appearing in his affluent neighborhood alone. Personnel at these locations search cars for weapons, inspect identification documents, and occasionally demand to examine mobile phones, according to the resident who requested anonymity for security reasons.

Checkpoint attacks commenced on March 11, with Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, an American monitoring organization, documenting at least 15 separate incidents in one day.

“We are landing crushing blows on the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, both in the streets and at checkpoints,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the following day, stating the objective was establishing conditions for Iranians to remove their government.

On Tuesday, Israeli military officials announced strikes against more than 10 Basij locations throughout the capital. Video footage shared online and confirmed by the Associated Press displayed two burning vehicles near traffic cones on a central Tehran boulevard. The scene corresponded with aerial footage released by Israeli forces showing a Tuesday checkpoint strike as public transportation and civilian vehicles passed nearby.

Iranian citizens have been distributing videos and social media posts revealing checkpoint locations, frequently tagging the Israeli military’s Farsi account and requesting strikes, sometimes honoring protesters killed in those areas. Others share checkpoint information to warn commuters about traffic delays. Multiple videos show checkpoints positioned beneath bridges, apparently seeking protection from aerial attacks.

The Basij, meaning “mobilization” in Farsi, comprises tens of thousands of volunteers operating under Revolutionary Guard authority. Most remain unarmed and participate in “ideological and political activities,” according to Azizi, a visiting researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

The organization operates similarly to how the Communist Party functioned in the Soviet Union, maintaining divisions in educational institutions, universities, government agencies, and other organizations, he explained. Male and female volunteers work to guarantee devotion to the Islamic Republic through activities like conducting religious instruction or intimidating those who violate social regulations. They can also be activated for government-sponsored events, including counter-demonstrations, Azizi noted.

Local paramilitary divisions deploy during periods of domestic unrest — such as January’s protests — equipped with weapons ranging from clubs and stun devices to lethal ammunition.

Throughout those protests and the current conflict, the Basij’s function has been supplying personnel, Azizi explained.

“The state’s security apparatus has been continuously engaged, leaving many of its core forces both deeply entrenched and likely fatigued,” he said. Through checkpoint operations, the Basij enables security agencies to concentrate on intelligence collection and detentions.

Iranians describe widespread text message warnings against demonstrations and aggressive Basij patrols in Tehran. On Thursday, Iran announced executing three men detained during January’s protests, marking the first known implementation of such sentences.

Over the past week, semi-official media sources have reported arresting more than 100 individuals across Iran, mostly charged with collaborating with hostile nations or sharing media content with foreign organizations. At least 14 faced accusations of possessing Starlink internet equipment or planning to distribute them or virtual private network access cards. Starlink has provided one of the few methods for accessing global internet since the unprecedented blackout started January 8.

The government has also reportedly disabled portions of Iran’s domestic internet and canceled some VPN cards issued to individuals with specialized occupations.

The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, an American-based organization, reported people being arrested for photographing checkpoint, base, and military facility locations. Authorities continue detaining individuals connected to January’s protests, former political prisoners, or minority group members.

The rights organization said it received reports of security forces firing weapons at checkpoints. In one case, two teenage brothers were shot and killed after honking their vehicle horn celebrating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in the war’s initial attack.

ATHENS, Greece — Israeli military operations have systematically eliminated Iran’s highest-ranking officials in a series of targeted strikes.

The campaign began with the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the conflict’s initial phase. Subsequently, Ali Larijani, who served as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and ranked among the nation’s most influential figures, was also eliminated. Multiple other senior military and political officials have been killed as well.

With such extensive losses among Iran’s top echelon, questions emerge about the country’s current leadership structure and who maintains operational control.

Iran’s governmental system centers around the supreme leader position, which has served as the ultimate authority since the Islamic Republic’s establishment following the 1979 revolution that toppled the shah.

Following Khamenei’s death, his 56-year-old son Mojtaba Khamenei received swift appointment as the new supreme leader. The younger Khamenei, known for maintaining a low profile, has remained absent from public appearances since the airstrike that claimed his 86-year-old father’s life.

Despite never holding an elected or appointed governmental role, the cleric had been widely viewed as a potential successor. He maintains strong connections with Iran’s influential paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

His ideological stance is reportedly more extreme than his father’s positions. In his official capacity, he now oversees Iran’s military forces, and nuclear program decisions fall under his authority.

However, questions persist about his actual control over the nation.

“I’m not sure who’s running Iran right now,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during a Thursday evening press conference. “Mojtaba, the replacement ayatollah, has not shown his face. Have you seen him? We haven’t, and we can’t vouch for what exactly is happening there.”

The Israeli strike that killed his father also claimed the life of Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife, Zahra Haddad Adel. American and Israeli intelligence sources indicate he sustained injuries in the same attack.

“Iran’s command and control structure is in utter chaos,” Netanyahu declared.

According to Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow specializing in Middle East security at the Royal United Services Institute, a UK-based defense and security think tank, the elimination of numerous Iranian leaders will transform the theocratic system, though changes may unfold gradually.

“Leadership matters, and the loss of key decision-makers spanning politics, intelligence, internal security and (the) army will have transformative consequences,” Ozcelik stated.

“The fixation on the terminology of ‘regime collapse’ is obscuring the fact that the regime is already changing” as a result of the military strikes and leadership assassinations. However, she noted that the war’s complete impact on the country may require time to fully manifest.

“We need to be prepared for change that may take years, not weeks or months.”

Many experts believe actual authority now lies with Iran’s formidable paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

“The Revolutionary Guard is the state now,” explained Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group. Prior to the conflict, civilian leadership was “subservient entirely” to the supreme leader, while the Guard represented the country’s second-most powerful institution.

However, with the elder Khamenei deceased and his son lacking equivalent authority, “it is really the Revolutionary Guards who are running the country.”

The Guard emerged from Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution as a protective force for the Shiite cleric-led government. It subsequently gained constitutional recognition and functions alongside Iran’s conventional military.

The Guard’s overseas operations unit, the Quds Force, played a crucial role in establishing what Iran calls its “Axis of Resistance” opposing Israel and the United States. It provided support to Syria’s former President Bashar Assad, Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and additional regional armed groups.

During the conflict’s early stages, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that the country’s military forces were operating without centralized governmental oversight.

“Our … military units are now in fact independent and somehow isolated and they are acting based on instructions — you know, general instructions — given to them in advance,” Araghchi stated during a March 1 Al Jazeera interview.

When questioned about Tehran’s attacks on other Gulf states, including Oman, which had served as an intermediary in recent U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, he responded: “What happened in Oman was not our choice. We have already told our … army, armed forces to be careful about the targets that they choose.”

The prospect of Israeli or American military action against Iran had long been anticipated. The Islamic Republic had incorporated this possibility into its strategic planning, establishing numerous backup plans, according to Vaez.

“I think the mistake in the U.S. and in Israel is that they ended up believing their own rhetoric that Iran is akin to a terrorist organization, that decapitating the regime or removing one or two layers of political elite would result in paralysis and collapse,” Vaez observed. “Whereas this is a state, … it has multiple layers of leadership.”

Even with all senior commanders eliminated, he noted, subordinate officers can assume their predecessors’ responsibilities. “The expectation that this regime will … implode by removing a few dozen senior leaders, I think is nothing but an illusion.”

NUUK/COPENHAGEN – Political candidates from Greenland are using President Trump’s interest in purchasing their Arctic homeland as a bargaining chip to secure greater concessions from Denmark in next week’s parliamentary elections.

Trump’s public desire for the United States to obtain Greenland has spotlighted the remote island home to 57,000 residents, highlighting ongoing concerns about Denmark’s investment in military defense, infrastructure development, and economic growth.

“The most important thing for us in this election is the sovereignty of the Greenlandic people,” stated Juno Berthelsen, 43, who represents the opposition Naleraq party that supports independence. “The Greenlandic people … should always be at the centre of any conversation about Greenland.”

The Naleraq party, whose name translates to “point of orientation” in the indigenous Kalaallisut language, has put forward five candidates including Berthelsen to compete for Greenland’s two parliamentary seats in Denmark’s national legislature. Greenland operates as an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty.

UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT

Although many residents view Naleraq’s push for immediate separation from Copenhagen as hasty or misguided, others recognize Trump’s territorial ambitions as an opportunity to address decades-old complaints against Denmark.

As global superpowers increasingly compete for Arctic influence and climate change creates new shipping lanes while exposing natural resources, Greenland’s strategic value has become undeniable. This forces Copenhagen to demonstrate its value as an ally rather than taking the relationship for granted.

Any appearance of Danish negligence could strengthen Trump’s argument for American involvement.

Numerous Greenlanders criticize Denmark for unfairly profiting from their fishing sector, preventing economic self-sufficiency, and failing to shield the over 17,000 Greenlanders residing in Denmark from prejudice.

Anna Wangenheim, who serves as Greenland’s health minister and represents the Demokraatit party alongside Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, believes Trump’s demands have triggered a necessary confrontation.

“The fact that we are in the eye of the hurricane in the Arctic means that we have a very great opportunity to have much greater influence than we have had before.”

SEEKING REPRESENTATION

Aage Josefsen, a 55-year-old bus operator in capital city Nuuk, views the election through a straightforward lens: determining who truly represents Greenland’s interests. “The Greenlandic government should have more say in meetings, instead of Denmark just speaking on Greenland’s behalf,” he explained.

Campaign platforms from Greenlandic politicians include establishing a maritime patrol unit staffed by local fishermen and hunters, restructuring fishing operations to keep more profits on the island, and requiring Danish students to study Greenlandic history and culture.

Denmark’s left-leaning Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confronts a competitive election despite gaining support for her firm resistance to American pressure regarding Greenland, as many Danish citizens express frustration with increasing living expenses and social service strains.

Political experts suggest Frederiksen may find it difficult to secure a parliamentary majority, making every vote critical – including those from Greenlandic representatives – for maintaining her leadership position.

Candidates are also demanding revision of the 1951 military cooperation agreement between Denmark and the United States, which was negotiated without Greenlandic participation.

“It must be something that Greenland can also see itself reflected in, a defence agreement about our land,” explained Ane Lone Bagger from the Siumut party.

SHIFTING ATTITUDES

Bagger noted that Trump’s pressure has already altered Danish behavior. “Suddenly there are apologies and this and that,” she observed.

In the previous year, Denmark issued formal apologies to thousands of Greenlandic women who were subjected to forced contraception procedures from the 1960s through 1991.

This changed approach from Copenhagen is exemplified by Frederiksen, who has established herself as Greenland’s strongest advocate, making multiple visits to the territory and mobilizing European allies against American pressure.

She has clearly stated that Greenland’s destiny belongs solely to its people to determine.

However, many islanders worry that international political tensions overshadow their everyday concerns.

For Inuujuk Louis Petersen, a 24-year-old taxi driver campaigning for Demokraatit in Nuuk’s Danish parliamentary race, the situation carries both personal and political significance.

Greenland never requested to become the center of superpower competition, he noted. “It is of course at the expense of the life we have always been used to,” he said. “And that was peace and quiet.”

A leading pharmaceutical trade organization in the United Kingdom is sounding the alarm about potential medicine shortages if Middle East conflicts continue to disrupt global supply chains.

Medicines UK, which represents companies responsible for 85% of NHS prescriptions, reports that while Britain has managed to avoid drug shortages up to this point, escalating shipping expenses are putting severe financial strain on generic medication producers.

Mark Samuels, the organization’s Chief Executive, described Britain as being “one step away” from experiencing medicine shortages should regional instability continue, noting that current stockpiles only offer temporary protection.

According to Samuels, manufacturers of low-cost generic medications are already feeling the impact of increased transportation expenses and shipping delays. These companies may soon reach their limit for absorbing additional costs.

“If the conflict continues for the longer term, then I think manufacturers will cease being able to absorb the costs, and then we’ll either have some price rises for the NHS or we’ll have a failure to supply. Probably a mixture of both,” Samuels explained during a Thursday interview with Reuters.

The executive emphasized that off-patent medications face particular vulnerability compared to patented drugs, as their narrow profit margins provide minimal flexibility for handling increased freight expenses. With approximately 55% of generic drugs in Britain costing less than 1 British pound ($1.34) for a month’s treatment, transportation represents a substantial portion of total costs, raising concerns that some products could become unprofitable.

Previous reporting has indicated that the ongoing conflict is already affecting the flow of essential medications to Gulf regions, threatening supply chains for cancer treatments and other medications requiring temperature-controlled transport as companies seek alternative shipping routes.

Samuels noted that biosimilar medications face greater risk than standard oral medications due to their longer production timelines and more complicated manufacturing processes.

South Africa’s trade regulators have announced significant new import duties targeting structural steel from China and Thailand following a comprehensive investigation that uncovered evidence of unfair trade practices.

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa revealed that Chinese structural steel imports will now face a substantial 74.98% tariff, while products from Thailand will be subject to a 20.32% duty. These final rates represent a major increase from the temporary measures implemented in 2024, which set provisional duties at 52.81% for China and 9.12% for Thailand.

The new tariffs specifically target structural steel products primarily utilized in construction projects. According to the March 19 government announcement, the trade commission’s investigation determined that both countries were engaging in dumping practices.

In their official statement, regulators concluded that steel products “originating in or imported from the PRC and Thailand was being imported into the SACU market at dumped prices, thereby causing material injury.”

The commission explained that dumping occurs when products are sold in foreign markets below normal pricing or production costs, creating unfair competition that harms local manufacturers.

Officials from both the Chinese and Thai embassies have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the new trade restrictions.

The trade commission confirmed that South Africa’s commerce minister has given approval for the recommended tariff structure.

South Africa’s steel sector has been struggling with declining domestic demand while simultaneously dealing with a surge of foreign imports, predominantly from Chinese manufacturers. Major industry players like ArcelorMittal South Africa have been forced to close production facilities due to these market pressures.

According to data from the South African Iron and Steel Institute, imported steel represents approximately 36% of the country’s total steel usage, with Chinese products accounting for 73% of those imports.

While conflict continues to intensify throughout the Middle East, Iranian American families nationwide are determining how best to celebrate Nowruz, the traditional Persian New Year holiday.

Communities with Iranian heritage are navigating the challenge of honoring their cultural traditions during a time of regional turmoil and uncertainty.

South Korean lawmakers approved comprehensive judicial reforms Friday that will remove investigative authority from prosecutors, a change supporters say will reduce the potential for political manipulation of one of the nation’s most influential government institutions.

The new law establishes a dedicated agency focused solely on indictments and prosecutions while transferring investigative responsibilities to a different organization.

This historic decision formalizes the division of authority that President Lee Jae Myung and his liberal Democratic Party believe is essential to stop political misuse of unconstrained prosecutorial influence.

Liberal efforts to restructure the prosecution system intensified following accusations that former prosecutor chief Yoon Suk Yeol exploited the office to secure the presidency and target political adversaries.

When conservative leader Yoon declared martial law briefly in December 2024, many reform supporters viewed this as the ultimate justification for dismantling the system that elevated him to power.

Friday’s vote concludes a multi-decade political battle in South Korea to restructure the prosecution service. Demands for reform grew as prosecutors faced allegations of pursuing political opponents while shielding allies, with liberal politicians contending that such concentrated authority encouraged abuse and undermined democratic oversight.

Park Eun-jung, a former prosecutor and representative from the liberal Rebuilding Korea Party, explained that the reform aims to address “a shameful history of prosecutors changing the standard of the law to suit their political advantage.”

However, opponents, including conservative legislators who attempted to prevent the vote through filibuster tactics, argue the restructuring could diminish oversight of investigators and transform reform into a political weapon for the current administration.

Choi Jin-a, a law professor at Korea University, warned the legislation would eliminate safeguards ensuring the prosecution service’s political neutrality and independence, “making prosecutors and police even more beholden to political power.”

Reform advocates maintain that breaking the prosecution’s control is exactly their objective.

“In democracy, no function is controlled by one group, and power works for the people through dispersion and checks,” explained former Democratic Party representative Choe Kang-wook.

Iranian state television announced Friday that Ali Mohammad Naini, a communications official with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, died in military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.

Naini served as both a spokesperson and deputy of public relations for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces, according to the state media report from Tehran.

The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East involving Iranian military forces and their regional activities.

Chinese anti-corruption authorities announced Friday they are investigating Chongqing Mayor Hu Henghua for alleged serious violations of law and party discipline.

China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection revealed the probe in a brief statement but provided no specific details about the nature of the alleged violations against Hu.

This investigation represents the latest development in China’s ongoing “high-pressure” anti-corruption drive targeting Communist Party officials. The campaign has resulted in numerous senior party members facing investigations, dismissals, and criminal charges in recent years.

Chongqing ranks among China’s four directly-controlled municipalities, sharing equivalent administrative authority with provinces. The other three cities with this special status are Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai.

Hu’s record includes a previous disciplinary action from 2023, when party officials issued him a formal warning for inadequate oversight of housing, construction, and safety standards. This failure contributed to a deadly building collapse in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, which claimed more than 50 lives in 2022.

The mayor took office in Chongqing in December 2021, following a career that included various high-ranking positions in Hunan province from late 2013 through 2020.

Officials from Myanmar’s legislature announced Friday that the presidential selection process will commence on March 30, with many political observers anticipating the current military leader will secure the position.

The announcement comes after a disputed election victory by a party supported by the military. Under the established procedure, three presidential nominees will be put forward – one each from the military, the upper legislative chamber, and the lower legislative chamber.

Following a review period, lawmakers will choose one of these three nominees to serve as president, while the remaining two will take on vice presidential roles, according to officials from the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw speaking during a state media broadcast.

The timeline for the candidate review process and the actual presidential vote remains unclear, as officials provided no specific dates for these steps.

Political analysts widely believe Min Aung Hlaing, the current junta leader, will assume the presidency of the Southeast Asian nation.

Independent political observer Htin Kyaw Aye anticipates the general will resign from his military leadership position before the March 30 deadline, citing constitutional requirements that prevent active civil servants from seeking the presidency.

“Since Min Aung Hlaing aspires to the presidency, he must step down from his current role as Commander-in-Chief to be eligible with 2008 constitution,” stated the Thailand-based analyst.

The analyst noted that military forces and the army-supported Union Solidarity and Development Party will maintain their grip on the nation’s political landscape following the staged elections conducted in December and January.

“This is not a transition to democracy, but rather a transformation from a military-clad dictatorship to a civilian-clothed one,” he explained.

The country has experienced significant unrest since early 2021, when military forces removed the democratically elected civilian administration headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. The military takeover sparked widespread demonstrations that eventually evolved into armed resistance movements challenging junta rule throughout the nation.

South Korean government officials acknowledged Friday that Iranian strikes on Qatar’s energy infrastructure have created market uncertainty, though they emphasized the nation maintains adequate liquefied natural gas supplies through diverse sourcing options.

The state-owned QatarEnergy company announced it must invoke force majeure clauses on long-term supply agreements lasting up to five years for LNG deliveries to Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China following the Iranian attacks that eliminated 17% of the country’s LNG export capabilities.

As the globe’s third-largest LNG purchaser behind China and Japan, South Korea relies on natural gas for electricity generation, industrial operations, and residential heating systems. Data from analytics company Kpler shows the country imported 47.77 million metric tons of LNG last year, with Qatar providing 7.16 million metric tons of that total.

Qatar ranks as South Korea’s third-most important LNG supplier, following Australia and Malaysia in volume.

“Given that the share of imports from Qatar is relatively low (at around 14% in 2026) and alternative supply sources are available, there are no issues regarding gas supply and demand,” South Korea’s Industry Ministry said in a statement, without elaborating on the potential alternative sources.

“However, as uncertainty has been growing, we plan to closely monitor supply, demand, and price trends and respond accordingly,” the ministry added.

The government-controlled Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS) reported Friday that its LNG stockpiles exceed required reserve levels. “KOGAS has sufficient capabilities to respond to supply and demand crises,” the company stated.

Officials plan to manage LNG supplies by boosting coal and nuclear power production while decreasing dependence on natural gas-powered electricity generation, according to Democratic Party representative Ahn Do-geol, who spoke earlier this week.

Natural gas-fired power plants generated 27% of South Korea’s electricity in 2025, with the remainder primarily coming from coal, nuclear, and renewable energy sources.

Ahn indicated that restrictions limiting coal power generation would be removed, while scheduled maintenance at six nuclear facilities would be expedited to maximize nuclear energy utilization.

LNG purchasers across Asia have been scrambling to secure replacement supplies since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran blocked tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz and interrupted Qatari deliveries.

Alex Siow, lead Asia gas analyst at ICIS analytics firm, suggested that Kogas should have little trouble replacing Qatari volumes through spot market purchases, as the company is less constrained by price considerations than other buyers.

Siow noted that South Korea had already begun increasing coal-fired electricity generation, while a new nuclear power facility scheduled to begin operations in the second half of the year will provide additional energy capacity.

DAEJEON, South Korea — A devastating blaze broke out at an automotive parts manufacturing plant in South Korea’s central region Friday, leaving no fewer than 50 workers injured, according to emergency officials.

South Korea’s National Fire Agency reported that 35 individuals sustained serious injuries, though authorities could not immediately determine if any victims faced life-threatening conditions.

Dramatic footage captured at the location revealed dense gray smoke pouring from the industrial complex.

Emergency officials could not immediately determine how many employees remained trapped within the building and cautioned that the casualty count might climb higher. The blaze began around 1:17 p.m., with authorities declining to speculate on what may have sparked the fire.

The fire agency dispatched more than 200 emergency responders along with 70 emergency vehicles to combat the flames.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who serves as the nation’s second-ranking official under President Lee Jae Myung, ordered the complete deployment of emergency personnel and equipment to suppress the fire and conduct rescue missions.

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit publicly addressed her controversial connection to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, expressing deep remorse about their relationship in what represents one of the most significant scandals to impact the Norwegian royal family.

The princess’s comments come after the U.S. Justice Department made public millions of documents related to Epstein, creating worldwide controversy as they exposed the convicted financier’s connections to high-profile individuals, including the Norwegian royal and several prominent politicians, business leaders, and diplomatic officials from Norway.

“I was manipulated and deceived,” Mette-Marit stated during her television interview with Norway’s public broadcasting network NRK.

“Of course, I wish I had never met him,” the crown princess added when discussing Epstein.

The newly released documentation revealed ongoing correspondence between the 52-year-old princess and Epstein that continued well beyond 2008, when he entered a guilty plea for soliciting a minor. Mette-Marit, who issued an apology to King Harald and Queen Sonja in a statement on February 6th, faces no criminal allegations.

Although previous news reports had established some connection between Mette-Marit and Epstein, the recent document release revealed a far more substantial relationship, prompting criticism from Norway’s prime minister and calls for the princess to provide a complete explanation.

According to the American documents, the princess, who is married to Crown Prince Haakon and future queen, remained in contact with Epstein between 2011 and 2014, including a four-day stay at his Palm Beach residence during a personal visit in 2013.

“I’ve never seen anything illegal,” Mette-Marit emphasized during Friday’s NRK interview.

Public support for Norway’s royal institution has declined in recent months, according to polling data from February involving 1,009 participants.

The Norstat survey, published February 21st by NRK, found that 60% of Norwegian citizens now back the monarchy, representing a drop from 70% in January, while republican support increased from 19% to 27% during the same timeframe.

International trade relations face a potential turning point as diplomats warn that stalled reform efforts at the World Trade Organization may drive nations toward alternative trading arrangements.

A crucial four-day conference of WTO trade ministers scheduled for next week in Yaounde, Cameroon arrives at a pivotal moment for the organization that replaced the post-World War II trade framework in 1995.

The discussions occur against the backdrop of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets and poses significant risks to worldwide economic stability.

President Donald Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs has heightened international trade disputes, undermining the WTO’s authority while multilateral negotiations remain stagnant and the organization’s dispute resolution system has been paralyzed for six years.

While most WTO member nations support organizational changes, they remain split on developing an actionable strategy, according to diplomatic sources and confidential documents reviewed by Reuters. This disagreement may push trade-dependent nations to explore alternative solutions.

“Our ‘Plan A’ is to get reform within the WTO system, but there are many hurdles,” stated Swedish Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa, noting that unsuccessful Yaounde negotiations would motivate the European Union “to pursue a parallel track.”

The 27-member European bloc might strengthen partnerships with nations in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and other aligned economies, Dousa explained to Reuters.

The CPTPP encompasses 12 nations, including Australia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia and Britain.

Such cooperation would “supplement” the WTO framework, enabling participants to establish specific trade regulations among themselves while continuing to advocate for broader multilateral system reforms, according to two EU diplomatic sources.

“As a Plan B we have to open up for plurilateral agreements,” Dousa continued, referring to arrangements where willing nations commit to binding obligations.

Although some plurilateral deals have been integrated into WTO operations, certain members express frustration that a development investment initiative scheduled for Yaounde discussion has faced repeated obstruction despite majority backing.

Should this initiative remain blocked without agreement on reform directions, “we will consider our options,” warned one Western diplomatic representative.

EU-CPTPP partnerships could advance agreements covering digital commerce and essential raw materials while expanding Free Trade Agreements, according to Svitlana Taran from the European Policy Centre.

A Canadian official identified “a lot of momentum” in EU-CPTPP collaboration, with Yaounde discussions planned regarding origin rules and investment policies.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala informed Reuters that the organization endorses diversifying trade relationships.

“If they want to get together as a group and try to do something, we see it as complementary,” she stated.

Both Dousa and a European diplomat described the EU-CPTPP partnership, which currently represents more than 35% of worldwide trade, as potentially forming a “core group” open to additional members.

Looking ahead, participants might develop a “multi-speed” WTO structure, maintaining fundamental regulations while incorporating flexibility through different commitment levels and plurilateral arrangements for motivated groups to progress in specific sectors, Dousa explained.

One European trade diplomat anticipates a “tiered trade system” with varying commitment degrees, including ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) status, among willing participants developing outside WTO structures within five years before eventual WTO integration.

MFN status, a fundamental WTO principle, mandates that countries apply identical tariffs to all trading partners.

Confidential reform documents reviewed by Reuters reveal significant member disagreements: the United States supports changes but opposes detailed, comprehensive work plans, while the EU, Britain and China favor such approaches.

“I expect it to be quite a difficult ministerial,” acknowledged Okonjo-Iweala, though she expressed optimism about member consensus on reform necessity.

Washington’s main objective involves permanently extending a moratorium preventing customs duties on electronic transmissions like digital downloads, which expires this month. This extension would provide U.S. confidence to “remain fully engaged” in WTO operations, stated U.S. Ambassador Joseph Barloon.

India will likely continue opposing the moratorium, according to an official source.

“If U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer leaves Yaounde without a moratorium, the U.S. proclamations on the death of the WTO will be even louder,” predicted one diplomat.

The International Chamber of Commerce reports that businesses worry failure could trigger new taxes on cross-border data transfers.

Ministers will examine the MFN principle, currently governing 72% of global commerce, after Washington declared last December that MFN was inappropriate for the current era. The EU has similarly indicated interest in reconsidering MFN, primarily due to China-related concerns, a senior diplomat revealed.

Beijing maintains that MFN must continue as the foundation of the global trading system, a Chinese diplomat emphasized.

“We need a rules-based, not power-based, system.”

Israeli forces launched overnight airstrikes against Syrian government military installations on Friday, responding to recent attacks targeting Druze civilians in the Sweida province, according to Israeli military officials.

The military operation focused on command and control facilities as well as weapons storage sites located within Syrian military compounds in the southern region of the country. Israeli defense officials stated they will not accept violence directed at Druze communities and pledged ongoing efforts to safeguard these populations while closely watching regional developments.

The conflict in the Middle East has stalled American-mediated peace discussions between Ukraine and Russia, creating an opportunity for Vladimir Putin to launch fresh military campaigns against Ukraine that could intensify pressure on the embattled nation.

Moscow’s war treasury is swelling with profits from climbing global oil prices, while Iranian attacks in the Gulf region are rapidly depleting American air defense resources, sparking worries about reduced availability of support for Ukraine as the conflict enters its fifth year since Russia’s comprehensive invasion began.

European nations backing Ukraine have pledged continued unwavering assistance, but disagreements surrounding a substantial 90 billion euro ($106 billion) European Union financial package designed to fund Kyiv’s defense and economic requirements over two years demonstrate the growing difficulties.

NATO member countries’ unwillingness to deploy naval forces to help reestablish oil tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz has triggered sharp criticism from President Donald Trump, revealing another developing division with potentially serious consequences for Ukraine.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has attempted to maintain Washington’s focus by proposing Ukrainian knowledge in combating Iranian Shahed drones, dispatching more than 200 military specialists to the Gulf region. However, Trump has dismissed Zelenskyy’s assistance offer, stating America doesn’t require Kyiv’s help.

While fresh indicators of Western alliance tensions surface, Putin and his military commanders are considering strategies for spring and summer operations along the extensive 1,200-kilometer (approximately 750-mile) battle zone.

Russian armed forces seem to be preparing for another attempt to seize remaining Ukrainian-controlled portions of eastern Donetsk region, along with potential attacks in multiple other areas.

Military experts have noticed Moscow accumulating reserves, with operations anticipated to accelerate as spring weather conditions improve ground conditions.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has observed Russian forces intensifying artillery bombardments and drone strikes, attempting to weaken Ukrainian defensive positions ahead of ground assaults.

Ukraine has tried to disrupt the Kremlin’s strategies by conducting counter-operations in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where Russian troops have attempted to establish footholds aimed at advancing toward regional capitals that serve as crucial industrial centers.

The ISW stated in a recent battlefield evaluation that Ukraine’s effective retaliation in Dnipropetrovsk region will likely continue forcing Russia to “choose between defending against the Ukrainian counterattacks and allocating manpower and materiel for offensive operations elsewhere” along the front, potentially disrupting the expected Russian offensive.

The organization also observed that Ukrainian forces have increased their medium-range attacks against Russian supply lines, military hardware and personnel to attempt derailing the anticipated offensive.

Russian military commentators caution that Moscow would require significant force reinforcement to execute any major offensive, creating difficulties for the Kremlin.

Following the highly unpopular “partial mobilization” of 300,000 reservists during the war’s early stages that caused hundreds of thousands to leave the country to avoid conscription, Russian military leadership has shifted approaches, depending on volunteers and recruiting international fighters enticed by competitive salaries and additional benefits.

Putin stated Russia maintains approximately 700,000 troops engaged in Ukraine, roughly equivalent to Ukraine’s reported troop numbers.

Following rapid movements by substantial tank and mechanized infantry formations during Russia’s initial 2022 invasion, the conflict has transformed into an attrition war featuring small soldier units engaged in exhausting, building-by-building combat throughout devastated eastern Ukrainian towns and villages. Widespread drone usage has limited troop concentration for significant maneuvers.

Russia has also utilized long-distance missiles and drones to bombard Ukraine’s power infrastructure and other critical facilities.

Throughout the past year, Russia has successfully penetrated and weakened Ukrainian defensive positions due to the “growing lethality” of Moscow’s attacks and Kyiv’s declining personnel numbers, according to analyst Jack Watling from the Royal United Services Institute.

“Russia is likely able to maintain its current rate of recruitment, despite the punishing rate of casualties” inflicted by Ukraine, he added.

While preparing for new offensives, Russia has increasingly attempted to recruit students for its recently established Drone Forces, providing relatively generous compensation and positioning at safe distances from combat zones.

Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. director of national intelligence, informed the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday that “Russia has maintained the upper hand in the war against Ukraine.”

She indicated the U.S.-led discussions between Ukraine and Russia “are ongoing. Until such an agreement is met, Moscow is likely to continue fighting a slow war of attrition until they view their objectives have been achieved.”

Multiple negotiation rounds have yielded no apparent progress as both sides remain deeply divided on fundamental issues.

Putin demands Ukraine remove its forces from four regions Russia has unlawfully claimed but never completely conquered, abandon NATO membership aspirations, drastically reduce its military, and eliminate restrictions on Russian language and Moscow-aligned Orthodox Church — conditions Zelenskyy has refused.

Zelenskyy has requested a ceasefire, American-supported security assurances to prevent future Moscow invasions, and has dismissed territorial claims over Ukrainian land.

Kyiv’s European supporters accuse Moscow of prolonging discussions hoping to achieve additional gains and insist Europe must participate in negotiations. Russia has refused their involvement.

Moscow declares it won’t permit European troops to oversee a potential ceasefire and will consider them legitimate targets.

“There have been signals from the Europeans indicating that they would like to take a place at the negotiating table regarding the Ukrainian settlement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated this week, but added that “we don’t consider it necessary or expedient.”

Sam Greene, a professor at King’s College London, commented that Moscow’s approach was clear — “engaging with Washington just enough to prevent Ukraine from getting what it needed to shift the balance on the ground, and just enough to keep the Europeans at bay, but not enough to make real progress.”

The U.S. has provided Moscow a temporary exemption from oil sanctions, permitting sales of Russian crude already in transit — disappointing Kyiv and European nations.

Additionally, Trump has portrayed Zelenskyy as hindering peace efforts. “He has to get on the ball, and he has to get a deal done,” Trump said regarding the Ukrainian leader earlier this month.

He stated in an NBC News interview that while Putin was prepared for an agreement, “it’s much harder to reach a deal with Zelenskyy.”

Trump also rejected Zelenskyy’s proposal to assist in protecting American forces and allies in the Gulf from Iranian drones. “No, we don’t need their help on drone defense,” Trump told Fox News Radio.

Zelenskyy, who has adopted a more pragmatic public approach with Trump following their tense White House meeting in February 2025, has voiced increasing worry that the Iran conflict could damage Ukraine.

He informed the BBC this week that he had a “very bad feeling” about the Middle East conflict’s effect on Ukraine’s war, observing that peace negotiations are being “constantly postponed” while Russia profits from elevated oil prices and Ukraine might face shortages of American-made Patriot missiles.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian drone strikes targeted a major Kuwaiti oil processing facility in the early hours of Friday, igniting fires while warning sirens blared across Israel and explosive sounds echoed through Tehran during Israel’s retaliatory operations coinciding with Iran’s Persian New Year celebrations.

The ongoing conflict, now approaching its third week, continues to destabilize global markets as Iran maintains its assault on regional energy infrastructure. Kuwait reported that drone attacks on its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery caused significant blazes, with emergency teams working to extinguish the flames.

The targeted facility has the capacity to process approximately 730,000 barrels daily and had previously sustained damage from another Iranian strike on Thursday. The refinery represents one of three major oil processing plants in Kuwait, a small but petroleum-wealthy nation situated along the Persian Gulf.

Tehran escalated its targeting of Gulf Arab energy installations following Israel’s Wednesday bombing campaign against Iran’s extensive South Pars natural gas complex located offshore in the Persian Gulf.

Powerful explosions rattled Dubai as defensive systems engaged incoming projectiles above the city, where residents were commemorating Eid al-Fitr, marking the conclusion of Ramadan’s holy fasting period, with mosques broadcasting their morning prayer calls.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reported warehouse fires caused by debris from intercepted missiles, while Saudi Arabia announced successfully downing several drones aimed at its petroleum-rich Eastern Province.

These fresh assaults followed an intensive period during which Iran targeted energy facilities throughout the region and fired over a dozen missile barrages toward Israel after the South Pars attack.

The South Pars field, representing Iran’s portion of the globe’s largest natural gas reserve shared with Qatar, sits offshore in the Persian Gulf. Given that approximately 80% of Iran’s electrical generation relies on natural gas, the Israeli strike directly threatened the nation’s power grid.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday evening that his country would pause additional strikes on the gas facility following U.S. President Donald Trump’s request, after Iran’s response caused oil prices to surge dramatically.

Iran’s attacks on neighboring Gulf Arab states, combined with its control over shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz—a vital passage for one-fifth of global oil and essential goods transport—have heightened fears of a worldwide energy emergency.

Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, which jumped above $119 per barrel during Thursday’s Iranian attacks, traded around $107 Friday morning, representing a more than 47% increase since the February 28 Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran that initiated the current conflict.

Warning sirens activated across Israel early Friday, alerting residents in Jerusalem and northern regions of incoming attacks and forcing people into protective shelters. Initial reports indicated no immediate casualties.

Shortly after Israel announced new military operations against Iran, explosive sounds were audible in Tehran as Iranians observed Nowruz, their traditional New Year celebration. Additional details were not immediately released.

The war has claimed over 1,300 lives in Iran. Israeli military actions against the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization in Lebanon have forced more than 1 million people from their homes, according to Lebanese officials, who report over 1,000 deaths. Israel claims to have eliminated more than 500 Hezbollah fighters.

Iranian missile strikes have killed 15 people within Israel, while four additional fatalities occurred in the occupied West Bank from Iranian projectiles.

At least 13 U.S. service members have lost their lives in the conflict.

The United Arab Emirates announced Friday it had dismantled what officials described as “a terrorist network funded and operated by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran.”

Authorities detained five individuals on money laundering charges, claiming they were “operating within the country under a fictitious commercial cover” while planning activities that could destabilize the nation’s financial system.

The UAE’s state-operated WAM news service published photographs of the five detainees without revealing their identities.

PARIS, March 20 – Following a historic release of emergency oil reserves earlier this month, the International Energy Agency has now issued recommendations for combating rising fuel costs triggered by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The conflict has sent energy prices soaring globally, raising inflation concerns worldwide and prompting the agency to seek additional ways to help consumers manage the financial strain.

On Friday, the IEA presented a series of measures that governments, companies, and individual households can implement to mitigate the impact of climbing energy costs on consumers.

Among the agency’s recommendations are encouraging remote work arrangements, lowering highway speed limits by a minimum of 10 kilometers per hour, and choosing alternative transportation methods over air travel when feasible.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol emphasized the organization’s ongoing efforts in a statement: “We have recently launched the largest ever release of IEA emergency oil stocks – and I am in close contact with key governments around the world, including major energy producers and consumers, as part of our international energy diplomacy.”

Birol further explained the purpose of the new guidelines: “In addition to this, today’s report provides a menu of immediate and concrete measures that can be taken on the demand side by governments, businesses and households to shelter consumers from the impacts of this crisis.”

Earlier this month on March 11, the IEA authorized the release of a historic 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves to address the dramatic increase in worldwide crude oil prices, with the United States providing the majority of the released supply.

DAEJEON, South Korea – Emergency crews are battling a massive industrial fire that has left 50 workers injured at an automotive parts manufacturing plant in South Korea, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency on Friday.

The blaze erupted at the facility located in Daejeon, a city situated approximately 99 miles south of Seoul. Of the 50 injured workers, 35 have sustained serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention.

South Korean fire officials have issued a nationwide emergency mobilization order to combat the dangerous flames. Nearly 240 emergency responders have been dispatched to the scene to fight the fire and conduct rescue operations.

Authorities are expressing grave concerns that the casualty count may continue to climb as firefighting efforts continue.

The country’s Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has issued direct orders emphasizing that rescuing human lives must remain the absolute top priority in the emergency response, according to Yonhap’s reporting.

Officials from the National Fire Agency were not immediately available to provide additional details when contacted by phone.