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ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — The military leader of Madagascar announced Thursday that prospective government ministers must undergo polygraph testing as part of an anti-corruption screening process.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who assumed control of the Indian Ocean nation following an October coup, revealed that Madagascar has obtained lie detector equipment and trained personnel to evaluate potential cabinet members.

“We will know who is corrupt and who can help us,” Randrianirina stated. “We are not looking for someone who is 100% clean, but someone who is more than 60% clean.”

The military officer led the overthrow of President Andry Rajoelina after weeks of demonstrations last year, primarily driven by young citizens angry about inadequate public services and limited opportunities in the poverty-stricken country of approximately 32 million people.

Last week, Randrianirina dismissed his complete cabinet and disbanded the government structure. He named a new prime minister this past Sunday.

“After taking the polygraph test, candidates who fail will not proceed to an interview,” Randrianirina explained to media representatives. “Those who pass the polygraph test will have an interview with me and the prime minister.”

The military leader has committed to conducting fresh elections within two years of assuming power.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Military strikes targeting major energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf region are sparking concerns about sustained disruptions that could drive up costs for fuel, electricity, technology components, and food supplies worldwide.

Thursday’s Iranian assault on crucial Gulf energy facilities came as payback for Israel’s strike on a natural gas operation that provides the majority of Iran’s gas supply. These retaliatory exchanges have heightened worries that initial war-related price increases could become permanent fixtures in the global economy.

Regional nations have already reduced oil production after Iranian strike threats forced most tanker operations through the Strait of Hormuz to halt, creating a bottleneck with nowhere for the oil to flow. Even when the strait reopens safely for tanker passage, energy supplies will take considerable time to resume normal flow because of the complicated process required to restart refineries and related operations. Any infrastructure damage from continued military action will extend these delays further.

Asian markets are experiencing the most severe impact since the majority of oil and gas passing through the strait heads to that region. Philippine government operations now run just four days weekly with orders to reduce air conditioning usage. Vietnamese authorities have encouraged remote work arrangements.

The disruptions extend beyond petroleum products. Critical materials including helium for semiconductor manufacturing and sulfur for fertilizer production face supply obstacles that could soon create shortages, pushing up prices throughout entire production chains.

Several major facilities have become primary targets in the conflict.

The South Pars natural gas field represents the planet’s largest such reserve, shared between Iran and Qatar, where Qatar calls its section the North Field. South Pars provides most of the natural gas Iran uses for residential heating and power generation.

Israeli forces struck facilities at Asuleyah connected to this field, prompting Iranian warnings of attacks on energy sites throughout other Gulf nations.

Iran already faces periodic electricity production challenges. Losing South Pars gas supplies would create additional hardships for Iranian civilians.

President Donald Trump stated Israel would not target South Pars again, but issued a social media warning that continued Iranian strikes on Qatar’s energy infrastructure would trigger U.S. retaliation to “massively blow up the entirety” of the field.

The planet’s biggest LNG export operation sustained “extensive” damage during Thursday’s Iranian retaliatory strike. State-owned QatarEnergy had already suspended operations following an earlier drone attack.

Ras Laffan processes gas from Qatar’s portion of the shared field with Iran, known as the North Field. The facility cools gas until it becomes liquid for tanker transport, primarily to Asian markets.

This attack severely impacted global energy markets since Qatar supplies 20% of worldwide liquefied natural gas. European consumers are already experiencing significantly higher prices.

This tanker facility has processed nearly all of Iran’s approximately 1.6 million daily barrels of pre-conflict crude exports, with most shipments bound for China. Trump announced U.S. bombing of military positions on Kharg Island March 13 while avoiding oil infrastructure, though he warned those energy facilities could face future attacks.

Some tankers continue loading operations there. Iranian oil appears to be exiting the Gulf through a “dark fleet” of vessels using false location data and hidden ownership to avoid sanctions, according to maritime intelligence firms.

Saudi Aramco’s pipeline connecting the Abqaiq oil processing facility near the Persian Gulf to Yanbu port on the Red Sea bypasses the Hormuz bottleneck, enabling Saudi Arabia to maintain substantial oil exports. However, the pipeline cannot fully compensate for the Hormuz closure. Saudi officials reported strikes on their SAMREF refinery at Yanbu, raising questions about continued oil export capabilities through that port.

This crucial tanker terminal on the Gulf of Oman allows Abu Dhabi to export significant oil volumes through a pipeline from the Habshan oil and gas field without using the Strait of Hormuz. Two strikes have disrupted operations, though activities have reportedly resumed.

After a drone attack, Kuwait Petroleum company reported Thursday that facility fires were extinguished, without detailing damage extent. Refineries are essential to Kuwait’s oil production since wells must shut down without processing destinations. Restarting refineries requires extensive time for safety protocols, keeping wells largely inactive until refineries resume operations.

Salalah hosts an $800 million facility producing liquid petroleum gas for Asian export, commonly used for cooking fuel. Indian restaurants have reduced operating hours and eliminated energy-intensive menu items like curries and fried foods. Located outside the Strait of Hormuz, operations were suspended as a precautionary measure following drone strikes.

This site provides approximately 20% of Abu Dhabi’s natural gas supply and serves as a major sulfur supplier extracted from gas, used in fertilizer and chemical manufacturing. Operations ceased Tuesday due to drone strike damage.

Four people died in overnight Iranian missile attacks that struck multiple locations across Israel and the West Bank from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, according to emergency services.

Warning sirens blared six separate times during the eight-hour period from midnight to 8 a.m. Thursday as waves of incoming missiles targeted various regions. The Magen David Adom ambulance service reported that a 30-year-old foreign worker in Moshav Adanim sustained fatal shrapnel injuries and died from critical wounds.

Near Hebron in the West Bank village of Beit Awwa, three Palestinian women lost their lives while 13 others were injured, with two victims in critical condition, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed. Palestinian Authority officials named the deceased women as Sahira, Amal and Mais Masalma, aged 50, 36 and 17 respectively.

These deaths represent the first Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank since the ongoing conflict involving America, Israel and Iran began.

Video evidence from the attacks suggested that Iran deployed cluster munitions in at least one of the strikes. A separate projectile demolished a residence in Neta, located close to Beit Awwa, leaving extensive structural damage.

The missile barrage caused widespread destruction across multiple sites. A Tel Aviv building suffered major damage after taking a direct hit.

Wednesday’s earlier attacks wounded three people in Petah Tikva in central Israel – a 44-year-old man and two children aged 13 and 12 – though their injuries were reported as minor.

Emergency sirens also activated in Haifa, the Galilee region, the Golan Heights, and near Eilat in southern Israel, but authorities reported no casualties in those locations.

Four people died in overnight Iranian missile attacks that targeted multiple locations across Israel and the West Bank from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, according to emergency services reports.

Warning sirens blared six separate times during an eight-hour period from midnight to 8 a.m. Thursday, signaling continuous incoming attacks. Emergency responders from Magen David Adom reported that a 30-year-old foreign worker sustained fatal shrapnel injuries in Moshav Adanim and died from critical wounds.

Near Hebron in the village of Beit Awwa, three Palestinian women lost their lives while 13 others sustained injuries, with two victims remaining in critical condition, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported. Palestinian Authority officials named the deceased women as Sahira, Amal and Mais Masalma, whose ages were 50, 36 and 17 respectively.

These deaths represent the first Palestinian casualties in the West Bank since the ongoing conflict involving America, Israel and Iran commenced.

A separate projectile struck a residence in Neta, located close to Beit Awwa, resulting in extensive property damage. Video evidence from the bombardment suggested that Iranian forces deployed cluster munitions in at least one of the attacks.

Property damage occurred across several other locations during the assault. A Tel Aviv building suffered considerable structural damage from a direct hit.

On Wednesday before the overnight attacks, three people sustained minor injuries in Petah Tikva in central Israel – a 44-year-old adult and two children aged 13 and 12.

Emergency alert systems also activated in Haifa, the Galilee region, the Golan Heights and near Eilat in southern Israel, although no casualties were documented in those locations.

ROME (AP) — Just steps away from Rome’s famous Pantheon lies a tranquil cloister that remains largely unknown to the millions of visitors who pass by daily.

Beyond its massive wooden entrance, decorated walls tell the story of centuries filled with drama, from papal elections to the religious trial of scientist Galileo Galilei. The general public cannot access these historic frescoes.

The courtyard centers around a fish pond surrounded by olive trees, two towering palms, and an orange tree whose fruit the resident friars transform into marmalade. Content cats rest in warm patches of sunlight across the lawn. Twenty Dominican friars continue to call the surrounding convent home while performing their religious duties.

“It is designed to be a place of prayer, of meditation and therefore in some way to encourage prayer and the meditation of the friars,” said Friar Aucone.

Throughout history, this location has drawn notable personalities including St. Catherine of Siena and Renaissance artist Fra Angelico, both entombed in the neighboring basilica. The site witnessed significant moments such as papal elections and proceedings of the Roman Inquisition.

The adjacent basilica’s title, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, reflects its layered past — a Christian church honoring the Virgin Mary constructed above an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Minerva, goddess of wisdom.

“This cloister of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is one of the largest and perhaps the most beautiful in all of Rome and it was a great cultural center in ancient times and it is even now,” said Claudio Strinati, an art historian.

During Julius Caesar’s era, citizens gathered here to vote. Dominican Friars constructed their church on this location in the late 1200s. The current cloister replaced an earlier version around 1570, designed by Guidetto Giudetti, who studied under Michelangelo.

Wall and ceiling frescoes display rosary mysteries intended to inspire contemplation among the Dominican residents. Additional artwork tucked into alcoves throughout the cloister reveals the complex and sometimes troubled history of this place and its occupants.

During the 16th century, the convent housed Roman Inquisition offices. High on the cloister walls, medallion portraits show beheaded Dominican Friars who served as inquisitors, depicted with severed necks and their heads in their hands.

“Among other things there was the tribunal of the Inquisition where famously Galileo Galilei was interrogated,” explained Strinati.

Within a chamber adjacent to the cloister, Galileo Galilei faced inquisition judges in 1633, compelled to abandon his “heretical” theory that Earth and other planets orbit the sun.

Fra Angelico, the Renaissance master and Dominican friar, resided at the convent while creating frescoes for the Vatican’s Niccoline chapel. Though in his fifties, Fra Angelico appears much older in his cloister wall medallion — a weathered elderly man in religious robes bent over his artwork.

Another medallion depicts St. Catherine of Siena, who lived at the convent and lies buried in the adjacent basilica. Friar Aucone observes with humor that while they possess her remains, her skull had to be given to Dominican Friars in Siena.

The structure encircling the cloister hosted two papal conclaves that chose Pope Eugene IV in 1431 and Pope Nicholas V in 1447. Five popes rest within the Basilica.

According to Strinati, concealed gems like the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva cloister contribute to Rome’s magical appeal.

“There is all the history hidden and therefore sometimes something is found and all generations, including mine, have discovered things,” he said. “The generations that will come later will continue to discover why it is so great and so profound that much is secret and hidden. And that is an element of its charm.”

A prominent Israeli missile defense authority warns that Iran’s cluster-equipped missiles present a critical timing challenge for defensive systems.

“After the cluster has opened, it’s too late,” Dr. Uzi Rubin explained to The Media Line, emphasizing the narrow window available to neutralize these weapons.

Rubin’s assessment comes amid growing scrutiny of cluster warhead technology used in Iranian missile strikes during recent hostilities with Israel. These weapons release numerous smaller explosive devices rather than delivering one large blast, creating unique defensive challenges.

The fundamental problem, according to Rubin, is straightforward: ballistic missiles equipped with cluster warheads must be destroyed before their payload separates and scatters submunitions. After that dispersal occurs, the weapon transforms from a single target into multiple threats, drastically reducing the effectiveness of interception efforts.

Rubin brings extensive credentials to his analysis. He established and directed Israel’s Missile Defense Organization from 1991 through 1999, guiding development of the Arrow system—Israel’s initial national missile defense capability. His subsequent roles included senior positions at Israel’s National Security Council, Israel Aerospace Industries, and the Defense Ministry. He also conducted research at Stanford’s Center for International Security and Arms Control. The Israeli government recognized his contributions with Defense Prizes in 1996 and 2003, while the US Missile Defense Agency honored him with the David Israel Prize.

When describing cluster warhead mechanics, Rubin began with historical context. “What is a cluster warhead?” Rubin said. “A cluster warhead is a class of bombs, which were more famously used in the Vietnam War and other wars. It’s a bomb which contains, instead of one big barrel of explosive, it contains a lot of small bomblets.”

He outlined the weapon’s operation during its final approach. “So a cluster warhead for a missile is the same thing,” Rubin said. “The tip of the missile, instead of containing a big barrel of explosives, contains a mechanism which holds on to a lot of small bombs. And when the missile approaches the target, it opens its skin, it peels off, and it spins around, and the bomblets are released and released into space and fall on the ground.”

Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal encompasses various systems developed over many years, with most capable of carrying different warhead configurations, Rubin noted. “Every one of their missiles, and they have several types, heavier ones, smaller ones,” he said. “For each one of them, they have a regular warhead or a cluster warhead.” The quantity of submunitions depends on the specific missile platform and its carrying capacity. “Cluster warheads can contain, let’s say, from 20-30 bomblets to 70-80 bomblets; it depends on the type of the missile.”

Defense systems face a critical timing constraint when engaging these threats. Interceptor missiles must eliminate incoming weapons while their warheads remain consolidated. After cluster mechanisms activate and disperse bomblets, successful interception becomes significantly more challenging since the destructive payload has already separated.

“Interception usually is done if it’s successful,” Rubin said. “It’s not always successful. It’s above the altitude where it opens there, and it disperses the cluster, when it’s still held in one piece.”

Technical analysis indicates cluster warheads typically release their contents at relatively low altitudes compared to ballistic missile flight paths. “In the papers, they say that the opening altitude of clusters is a dispersed altitude of 7 kilometers,” Rubin said. “Seven kilometers is pretty low. Most of the interception is done above that.”

Despite their unique characteristics, cluster warheads don’t require fundamentally different defensive approaches, according to Rubin. The core strategy mirrors that used against conventional ballistic missiles: eliminate the threat as early as possible during its flight path, well before it approaches target areas. “So, there is no difference in intercepting cluster warheads than the regular warhead,” he said. “You have to intercept them well away from the target.”

Below certain altitudes, successful interception becomes extremely difficult regardless of warhead type. “After the cluster has opened, it’s too late,” Rubin said. “But anyway, even if there’s not a cluster, a unitary bombhead, a barrel, below a certain altitude, you cannot intercept it anymore. It’s too late.”

This altitude limitation clarifies a widespread misunderstanding about Israel’s layered defense network. Iron Dome targets short-range rockets, while Arrow systems engage long-range ballistic missiles at high altitudes above Israeli airspace. The internationally recognized Iron Dome system isn’t designed to handle ballistic missile threats. “The Iron Dome is too low for that,” Rubin said. “The Iron Dome is not designed against that. It’s designed against a short-range rocket.”

Cluster and conventional warheads serve distinct tactical purposes, Rubin explained. Cluster munitions distribute damage over broader areas, posing greater threats to exposed personnel and unfortified facilities. “It depends for what use,” Rubin said. “A cluster warhead is very dangerous against troops in the open, against installations which are not protected.”

Traditional warheads focus their destructive force at single impact points. “A unitary warhead is more dangerous to, like you saw what happened last night in that village … that was a unitary warhead,” Rubin said.

Individual bomblets carry relatively modest explosive power compared to full ballistic missile payloads, but their combined impact remains lethal. Rubin likened submunition effects to rockets frequently launched by militant groups from Gaza. “No, it’s a small bomb,” he said. “The effect is like a Grad, a rocket that comes from Gaza. It can be fatal.”

The cluster warheads employed in recent conflicts aren’t new technology, Rubin emphasized. When asked whether versions used in current fighting differed from those fired in previous Iranian-Israeli exchanges, his response was brief. “Same thing,” he said. “They fired less of them, but it’s the same thing.”

For Rubin, the central challenge isn’t technological innovation but the compressed timeframe for effective response. Missile interception depends on altitude and split-second timing. Early destruction prevents warhead deployment; failure shifts the focus from prevention to damage mitigation.

Pakistani officials on Tuesday firmly disputed Afghan Taliban assertions that Pakistan Air Force aircraft bombed a medical facility in Kabul during overnight strikes on March 16. Taliban leaders alleged the attack on a hospital or drug treatment center resulted in 400 patient deaths, though independent confirmation remains unavailable.

Pakistani authorities maintain their aircraft targeted Taliban military installations rather than healthcare facilities, while Taliban representatives characterized the bombing as a mass-casualty assault on civilians.

Security officials from Pakistan stated the location housed weapons and explosives. They cited a large explosion visible throughout Kabul and surrounding areas as proof that significant amounts of combustible materials were stockpiled at the site. A high-ranking security official informed The Media Line that such operations occur only following thorough surveillance and intelligence confirmation from various sources, emphasizing that the air force strikes only validated targets without causing unintended damage.

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar reported that Pakistan’s military conducted targeted airstrikes against Afghan Taliban military bases in Kabul and Nangarhar provinces that were reportedly supporting terrorist activities.

“The strikes targeted two locations in Kabul and four in Nangarhar, including ammunition depots, logistics hubs, and technical infrastructure used to back militant proxies,” he added.

Tarar stated the Nangarhar operations hit facilities and equipment that Pakistan claims the Taliban used to assist proxy militant organizations. He also dismissed Taliban assertions of civilian fatalities.

Taliban representatives provided vastly different details. Kabul deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat alleged that the attack on a drug treatment facility resulted in 400 deaths and 250 wounded.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s primary spokesperson, independently verified that air raids occurred and declared that diplomatic options with Islamabad were exhausted, stating the organization would pursue retaliation.

The core disagreement centers on both the target’s nature and casualty numbers. Taliban officials characterized the location as a treatment facility or medical center. Ahmad Nabizada, a former Afghan intelligence official based in Kabul, informed The Media Line that “PAF jets targeted the former US Phoenix camp, which was used by the regime’s Defense Ministry for storing leftover US ammunition and other explosives.”

Nabizada reported witnessing the camp ablaze and claimed the neighboring medical building was subsequently ignited and destroyed to hide the Phoenix camp’s devastation. He also challenged the reported casualty figures. The Media Line could not independently confirm these assertions.

Khaama Press, an Afghan digital news outlet referencing local sources, also documented that Pakistan conducted multiple air raids throughout the region, striking Jalalabad Airport and the Achin, Khogyani, and Shinwari districts. Regional authorities in Nangarhar have not released official casualty or damage reports from these attacks.

Pakistani representatives said the Nangarhar operations targeted terrorist hideouts, including weapons storage facilities and operational headquarters.

Islamabad reports the campaign extended beyond the disputed Kabul locations to strike central Taliban security infrastructure. During the weekend, Pakistan Air Force jets hit the Badri Unit training facility in Kandahar, the elite forces unit responsible for protecting Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The heavily protected compound, located near a site associated with deceased Taliban founder Mullah Omar, represents one of the most reliable units under Akhundzada’s personal authority. Afghan news sources reported substantial casualties and destruction of arms and ammunition at the location, though precise numbers remain unverified.

Regional sources informed The Media Line that Akhundzada survived and evacuated to a protected area, contradicting early social media reports claiming his death.

Pakistan describes the current military action as part of a comprehensive campaign initiated after diplomatic efforts failed. Following what it characterized as exhausting all non-military methods to convince the Afghan Taliban to stop sheltering the prohibited Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), associated terrorist networks, the Balochistan Liberation Army, and al-Qaida, Pakistan began Operation Righteous Fury on February 26.

While Pakistan conducted operations along its western frontier, the United States and Israel initiated Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion against Iran on February 28. This timing overlap has complicated mediation efforts, strained diplomatic relations, and diverted international focus across a region already experiencing multiple simultaneous conflicts.

Following Righteous Fury’s launch, Pakistan’s military has executed continuous cross-border missions targeting armed organizations and Taliban-associated locations within Afghan territory.

The Pakistan Army’s communications division reports that air and ground units struck TTP safe houses, training facilities, weapons storage sites, and Taliban installations throughout Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Nangarhar, Paktia, and Paktika provinces.

Military announcements claim hundreds of terrorists were eliminated, over 600 Taliban fighters died in initial operations, and dozens of outposts, vehicles, and critical attack infrastructure were destroyed. These statistics lack independent verification.

International alarm has increased alongside the escalating conflict. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan, voiced concern regarding recent airstrikes and called on both parties to reduce tensions. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and respect international law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects such as hospitals,” he said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also advocated for peaceful resolution of the Afghanistan-Pakistan dispute. He cautioned that military force would heighten tensions and endanger regional stability. China has pursued mediation initiatives, with its special Afghanistan envoy actively traveling between Kabul and Islamabad recently.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan confrontation has received less international attention than the broader Middle East conflict, yet stems from a persistent disagreement with significant regional consequences. Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan’s Taliban administration of sheltering terrorist organizations, especially TTP, which Islamabad blames for cross-border attacks. Kabul rejects these accusations.

Farzana Shah, a Peshawar-based defense analyst and regional armed groups expert, informed The Media Line that “the current Pakistan–Afghanistan confrontation represents the kinetic phase of a long-simmering security rupture centered on cross-border militancy.”

She added that “since early 2026, Pakistan has shifted from defensive to pre-emptive airpower projection inside Afghanistan, targeting TTP sanctuaries and what it frames as enabling infrastructure under Taliban oversight.”

Shah noted the campaign might achieve short-term operational success but has not compelled the Taliban to break connections with TTP. Instead, she explained, Kabul has dismissed the accusations, reframed the situation as sovereignty violation, and transformed a counterterrorism disagreement into direct interstate conflict.

According to her assessment, the conflict will likely develop into an extended, low-level confrontation featuring periodic strikes, revenge attacks, and proxy escalation within Pakistan.

Muhammed Yasir Abassen, an Afghan political analyst and conflict specialist, concentrated on diplomatic prospects. He informed The Media Line that Pakistan will probably continue measured cross-border and remote strikes to discourage armed groups while attempting to prevent broader regional escalation.

Abassen predicted the Afghan Taliban will likely maintain defensive positioning, publicly rejecting the presence of groups like TTP, strengthening internal security, and avoiding direct conventional retaliation. He noted that without reliable verification or political discussions addressing the fundamental disagreement over safe havens, tensions will probably continue or worsen, despite potential temporary relief from regional mediation.

Additional evidence of internal Afghan pressure appeared in local media coverage. Taliban intelligence has cautioned local news organizations against reporting casualties from Pakistani airstrikes, warning such coverage could result in “serious consequences.”

Amu TV, referencing sources, reported Tuesday that the warning was distributed through WhatsApp to journalists, with Taliban intelligence monitoring border area reporting.

The advisory emerged as cross-border fighting with Pakistan reached its 20th day and independent examination of civilian casualty claims became increasingly difficult to maintain.

JERUSALEM – Israeli authorities confirmed Thursday that missiles fired by Iranian forces struck oil refining facilities in the northern coastal city of Haifa, though officials described the resulting damage as minimal.

Israel’s Energy Ministry reported that while the attack affected the Oil Refineries complex in the port city, the impact was not considered substantial. Energy Minister Eli Cohen noted that electrical service was temporarily interrupted but quickly restored for most customers who lost power.

“The damage to the power grid in the north is localized and not significant,” Cohen said. “Also, in the barrage towards the north, there was no significant damage to Israeli infrastructure sites.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting the Haifa refineries, as well as facilities in the southern city of Ashdod, describing strikes on “a range of security targets and military support centres of the Zionist regime” that “were hit by pinpoint missiles.” Officials have not yet confirmed whether the Ashdod facility sustained any damage.

Law enforcement reported that explosive ordnance disposal teams responded to multiple locations throughout Haifa where projectiles had landed. Authorities confirmed no injuries resulted from the attack.

Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection indicated that fragments from an intercepted missile fell within Haifa city limits and are being assessed as potentially hazardous material.

The Israel Electric Corporation confirmed that shrapnel damaged a transmission line serving the Haifa region, leading to temporary power loss. However, electrical service was fully restored to all affected customers within approximately 45 minutes.

This incident follows a previous attack in June when Iranian missiles struck the same Haifa refinery complex, resulting in three fatalities and forcing operations to cease temporarily.

Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad officially stepped down from his cabinet position Thursday as he prepares to launch a gubernatorial campaign in São Paulo state, providing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with a crucial political ally during this election year.

During a Thursday event in São Paulo, Haddad formally announced his departure from the finance ministry, followed by President Lula’s confirmation that Deputy Finance Minister Dario Durigan will take over the role in a move that political observers had anticipated.

The 63-year-old Haddad had telegraphed his intentions to leave the ministry position in late 2025, initially indicating he planned to focus on supporting Lula’s reelection campaign scheduled for October.

However, the political landscape has grown increasingly challenging for the leftist president, with recent polling data showing him in a statistical dead heat with Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, whose father, former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, narrowly lost to Lula in the 2022 election.

Speaking to the leftist publication Opera Mundi in a recent interview, Haddad admitted that “the scenario has become more complicated,” while confirming his candidacy plans without explicitly stating his intention to seek the São Paulo governorship.

Both Haddad and Lula are scheduled to appear at a Workers Party gathering at a São Paulo labor union facility at 7 p.m. local time (2100 GMT), a location that holds special significance for the president, who began his career as a metalworker.

The current political environment presents mounting challenges for Lula, complicated by rising oil prices stemming from escalating Middle East tensions that could trigger increased inflation. Haddad’s gubernatorial bid appears even more daunting given the competition he faces.

Polling data indicates that current Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, a well-regarded Bolsonaro supporter, maintains a substantial lead in voter preference surveys.

Despite the challenging odds, the Workers Party leadership believes Haddad’s gubernatorial campaign could strengthen Lula’s position in a state that plays a pivotal role in presidential elections.

Should Haddad lose this race, it would extend a series of unsuccessful political campaigns for the attorney, who holds advanced degrees in economics and philosophy.

Following his successful 2012 São Paulo mayoral victory, Haddad suffered a first-round defeat in his 2016 reelection attempt. He also lost the 2018 presidential race after stepping in for Lula, who was prohibited from running due to a corruption conviction that was subsequently overturned on procedural issues.

Haddad’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign in São Paulo also ended in defeat, though party officials credited his candidacy with helping Lula capture a majority of votes in the state capital during that year’s presidential contest.

During his tenure as finance minister, Haddad spearheaded significant reforms to Brazil’s consumption tax system, addressing long-standing complexity issues that economists viewed as obstacles to economic growth.

He also implemented new fiscal guidelines aimed at stabilizing government finances, establishing budget objectives that the administration later modified. Critics targeted Haddad over Brazil’s accelerating public debt levels, primarily attributed to substantial interest payments amid concerns about expanding government expenditures.

Under Haddad’s leadership, Brazil’s income tax structure underwent changes that increased obligations for wealthy taxpayers while providing relief for lower-income citizens, eliminated regressive tax benefits, and promoted various climate-focused financing initiatives.

His tenure also included higher taxes on business credit, foreign currency transactions, and imported goods, reinforcing opposition claims that the leftist administration prioritized generating new revenue over reducing government spending.

BEIT AWA, West Bank — Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank had largely watched from the sidelines as Israel and Iran traded missile strikes over nearly three weeks of conflict. That changed Wednesday when four women lost their lives in a tragic attack.

The victims were gathered inside a small beauty parlor in Beit Awa when an Iranian missile hit just outside the establishment, launching deadly shrapnel through the walls and across shelves filled with nail supplies and colorful polish bottles.

Over a dozen people suffered injuries while four died, including an expectant mother in her sixth month of pregnancy and her daughter, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent and witnesses at the scene.

The day following the attack, the aftermath was devastating — hundreds of coffee cups and artificial nails were strewn across floors stained with blood. The salon, operated from a metal shipping container in a residential yard, was riddled with holes and surrounded by debris near a small impact crater.

Business owner Hadeel Masalmeh mourned the loss of friends and her business partner, Sahera Atileh. She recalled hearing warning sirens from the Israeli settlement of Negohot, located approximately 2 miles away. “We didn’t pay much attention and didn’t expect any shrapnel or anything like that to fall on us,” she said.

Israeli communities have organized their daily routines around such warning systems since hostilities began, with residents frequently rushing to protective shelters multiple times each day. However, Palestinians have continued their normal activities throughout the past three weeks, rarely reacting when distant alarms sound or occasional phones with Israeli networks issue emergency notifications.

Emergency responders faced significant obstacles reaching the wounded. What should have been a 10-minute journey to Beit Awa extended to 25 minutes, depriving victims of critical medical attention, explained Abedullraziq Almasalmeh. He described hearing rockets pass overhead before impact, feeling his home shake as he called for ambulances after 10 p.m.

The Palestinian Red Crescent blamed the delays on Israeli checkpoints surrounding Beit Awa that forced emergency vehicles to use longer alternate paths.

These Wednesday casualties represent the first Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since the current Iran conflict started. The Red Crescent had previously warned that hundreds of newly installed Israeli barriers and checkpoints throughout the region were increasingly blocking their access to Palestinians requiring urgent medical care. Qusai Jabr, who manages the organization’s disaster risk management division, told The Associated Press that during the war’s opening week, delays affected women giving birth, elderly stroke victims, and those injured in escalating Israeli settler violence.

“This forced closure caused significant delays, compelling ambulances to take long, rugged alternative routes, which critically impacted the ‘golden hour’ essential for life-saving interventions,” the Palestinian Red Crescent stated.

Israeli officials have not implemented the comprehensive lockdowns seen during last year’s 12-day Iran conflict. Nevertheless, emergency services like the Palestinian Red Crescent report that travel conditions have not improved, with ambulance crews finding many barriers frequently sealed. Jabr noted that checkpoint numbers increased from roughly 800 during the previous year’s war to approximately 1,100 today, including both staffed and automated installations.

The beauty salon incident highlighted how Palestinians living close enough to view Israel from their neighborhoods lack the protective shelters and emergency medical support that have successfully reduced Israeli casualties and injuries during nearly three weeks of Iranian missile attacks.

Israel maintains an extensive network of warning sirens and mobile alerts that guide citizens to reinforced shelters capable of protecting against incoming projectiles or fragments that fall after interception by Israel’s defensive systems. While shelter access varies across Israel, particularly in Arab-majority communities, construction regulations have mandated them in residential buildings since the first Gulf War, with public facilities available for those without private protection.

Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank — in both dense urban centers and remote villages — do not have access to such safeguards. Although the West Bank is not an Iranian military objective, the area has previously been struck by shrapnel fragments and falling debris.

The exact nature of Wednesday’s strike remained uncertain. Israeli military officials characterized it as a direct impact rather than intercepted debris from their air defense network, identifying it as a submunition from a cluster weapon. These missiles can detonate in midair and scatter smaller explosive devices over broad areas, sacrificing accuracy for wider coverage.

JERUSALEM, March 19 – The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that the leader will address international media during an evening briefing scheduled for 8:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT).

This will mark Netanyahu’s second media appearance since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran commenced on February 28.

MEXICO CITY – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Thursday that her country has extended an invitation to Spain’s King Felipe VI for the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

During her daily news briefing, Sheinbaum explained that Gabriela Cuevas, Mexico’s official representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, distributed invitations to every nation that maintains diplomatic ties with Mexico, which included the Spanish monarch.

Spanish news outlets first broke the story about the royal invitation, which surfaced following King Felipe VI’s unexpected recognition earlier this week of the wrongdoings committed during Spain’s colonial era.

During the 16th through 18th centuries, Spain controlled one of history’s most expansive empires, stretching across five continents and encompassing large portions of Central and Latin America. The colonial period was marked by forced labor practices, seizure of indigenous lands, and widespread violence against native populations.

The king’s recent statements followed remarks made last month by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Munich speech, where Rubio lamented the weakening of “great Western empires” and expressed that Washington preferred allies not to be “shackled by guilt and shame.”

While Sheinbaum characterized the Spanish king’s acknowledgment as a diplomatic overture on Tuesday, she noted that “it wasn’t everything we would have wanted.”

The Mexican president had previously excluded King Felipe VI from her 2024 inauguration ceremony after he refused to issue an apology for the abuses committed during Spain’s colonial rule.

Legislators in Macao, China’s renowned gambling destination, have unanimously approved new legislation Thursday that grants courts the authority to conduct secret trials when public hearings are deemed a threat to national security.

The new law strengthens the role of Macao’s national security committee, which operates in the Chinese special administrative region alongside neighboring Hong Kong. Observers note that officials in both territories have been expanding their control over political discourse in recent years.

The approved legislation requires both judicial officials and the national security committee to agree that public court proceedings could endanger national security before trials can be moved behind closed doors.

The committee’s responsibilities include examining how to execute security directives from China’s central government in Beijing. Currently composed of security personnel, law enforcement leaders, and the territory’s chief executive, the legislation broadens the committee’s composition to include additional municipal officials overseeing cultural matters, education, and youth programs.

The prospect of secret criminal proceedings has generated concern among some watchers, particularly following last year’s detention of former pro-democracy legislator Au Kam San by Macao authorities. Police suspected him of collaborating with external entities in violation of the region’s national security legislation. This marked the first known prosecution under the law since its original passage in 2009 and subsequent revision in 2023.

According to a government statement, Thursday’s legislative approval represents significant progress in protecting national sovereignty, security, and developmental priorities. The law becomes effective one day following its publication in the territory’s official record.

The former Portuguese territory has transformed from a gambling monopoly into a global gaming powerhouse since China regained control in 1999.

Macao’s pro-democracy movement never achieved the prominence seen in Hong Kong, the former British colony that returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The Macao administration also experienced significantly fewer large-scale demonstrations against its governance compared to Hong Kong.

However, the casino center has seen increased political restrictions in recent years, particularly following the massive anti-government demonstrations that swept Hong Kong in 2019, representing the most significant challenge to Beijing’s authority since the territory’s transfer.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who serves as Iran’s parliament speaker, has emerged as a pivotal figure in Tehran’s leadership structure as ongoing Israeli and American military actions target the Islamic Republic’s top officials, positioning him as a crucial player during this critical juncture.

As Iran loses many of its most influential leaders, the former Revolutionary Guards commander—who previously served as Tehran’s mayor, the country’s national police chief, and multiple-time presidential candidate—has become an essential bridge connecting the nation’s political, security, and religious power structures.

Following the commencement of attacks on Iran approximately three weeks ago, which included the assassination of then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran’s remaining leadership has been locked in an intense struggle of endurance against their attackers.

Long regarded as Khamenei’s protégé and close ally to his son Mojtaba, who has now assumed the supreme leader role, Qalibaf has emerged as a prominent voice of resistance against Israel and the United States, pledging retaliation for their offensive actions.

Following Khamenei’s assassination, Qalibaf directed his words toward U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning of “such devastating blows that you will be begging.”

“I say to these two dirty criminals and their agents: you have stepped on our red line and you have to pay for it,” he stated during a televised address.

This aggressive language exemplifies his enduring commitment as a devoted supporter of the Islamic Republic’s theocratic governance structure, a dedication he has consistently shown through his involvement in suppressing domestic opposition movements.

However, beyond his hardline reputation, Qalibaf has cultivated an image as both a modernizer and pragmatic leader, even featuring himself in pilot uniform during his 2005 presidential campaign advertisements to emphasize his professional qualifications.

Early Revolutionary Involvement

Qalibaf was born in 1961 in Torqabeh, a town in northeastern Iran, and his formative years were influenced by religious teachings he received at local mosques during his teenage years, as the 1979 Islamic Revolution was gaining momentum, according to Iranian media reports.

Following Iraq’s invasion of Iran shortly after the shah’s removal from power, he enlisted with the Revolutionary Guards, a newly formed military organization dedicated to protecting the country’s emerging Islamic government, achieving the rank of general in just three years.

Continuing his military career with the Guards following the war’s conclusion, he earned his pilot’s license and ultimately led the Guards’ aviation division.

During his time with the Guards, he participated in the violent suppression of student demonstrators in 1999 and co-signed a threatening letter to reformist president Mohammad Khatami, warning of a potential coup if he failed to stop the protests.

As Khamenei faced mounting domestic unrest and international pressure regarding Iran’s nuclear activities, he increasingly relied on security hardliners like Qalibaf as the reform movement lost momentum.

In his role as police chief, he demonstrated ruthless tactics—commanding officers to shoot at demonstrators in 2002—while simultaneously attempting to appeal to modernists by updating the police force’s appearance with new uniforms.

During his 2005 presidential bid, despite attempting to connect with middle and lower-class voters, his populist appeal was overshadowed by the charismatic Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, leading Khamenei to shift his backing from his preferred former general to the newcomer.

Qalibaf’s presidential ambitions persisted through unsuccessful campaigns in 2013 and 2024, and he withdrew from the 2017 race to prevent dividing the conservative vote.

He succeeded Ahmadinejad as Tehran’s mayor, serving in that capacity for twelve years and claiming responsibility for helping quell months of civil unrest that challenged the government after his predecessor was declared the winner of a controversial 2009 election.

Following his twelve-year mayoral tenure, he returned to national politics through his parliamentary election and appointment as speaker in 2020, securing one of Iran’s most influential political positions.

MOSCOW – Russian security officials announced Thursday they will enhance protective measures for senior military personnel following multiple targeted attacks that Moscow attributes to Ukrainian operatives.

The announcement comes after Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alexeyev, who serves as deputy chief of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, was wounded by gunfire in his Moscow residential building on February 6. The officer sustained three gunshot wounds during the incident. Ukrainian officials have rejected any connection to the attack.

Alexander Bortnikov, director of Russia’s FSB security agency, told state-run media outlets that Alexeyev is making progress in his recovery. When asked about protective measures for high-ranking military personnel, Bortnikov indicated that security protocols would “of course” be strengthened in response to the recent incidents.

The shooting represents the latest in what Russian authorities describe as a pattern of targeted violence against military leadership figures, though specific details about other incidents were not provided in the announcement.

A French court has ordered billionaire Vincent Bollore to stand trial on bribery and embezzlement charges stemming from his business dealings in West Africa over a decade ago, according to prosecutors in Paris.

The media mogul stands accused of paying bribes to government officials in the Parisian suburb of Puteaux while supporting the presidential campaigns of Faure Gnassingbe in Togo and Alpha Conde in Guinea between 2009 and 2011, prosecutors announced Thursday.

Authorities began formally investigating Bollore in 2018 following accusations that his business empire provided below-market-rate services to political candidates in both African nations as part of a scheme to secure profitable port management contracts.

The Bollore family’s business empire previously controlled extensive shipping and logistics operations across Africa before divesting those holdings to MSC Group in 2022. The family maintains controlling interests in major publicly traded corporations including media giant Vivendi and advertising company Havas.

Two additional defendants will join Bollore in court: former Vivendi board member Gilles Alix and Jean-Philippe Dorent, who currently serves as head of Havas International Consulting, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Neither Bollore nor his legal representatives have issued statements regarding the charges.

MIAMI (AP) — For more than sixty years, Cuba’s Communist Party has demonstrated remarkable staying power through numerous challenges.

From America’s economic embargo following Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959, to the devastating hunger during the “special period” after the Soviet Union’s collapse, the island’s government has weathered both external pressure and internal disasters.

However, the current crisis may represent the most serious challenge yet, as the Trump administration implements what amounts to an unofficial naval blockade aimed at forcing governmental change following the recent removal of Cuba’s long-standing ally, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

While engaged in conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump stated this week that he expects to have “the honor of taking Cuba” in the near future. Though his exact intentions remain unclear, the United States is seeking President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s departure through ongoing negotiations with Havana that might prevent potential American military action.

Without formally announcing a blockade, Trump’s administration has severely damaged commercial relations with the Caribbean nation.

During March, deliveries of petroleum, food, and other essential items to Cuba virtually stopped, with no international tankers reaching the island, according to maritime data reviewed by Windward, a shipping intelligence company. Port visits, including vessels moving between Cuban harbors, typically averaged 50 monthly throughout 2025 but dropped to merely 11 in March — all from domestic origins. This marked the lowest figure since 2017. Furthermore, prospects for improvement appear dim: no tankers are currently en route, and only three cargo vessels — from China, India, and the Netherlands — have listed Cuba as their planned destination, though these plans could shift.

This economic stranglehold is severely impacting Cuba’s 11 million people, who face extensive power outages and deteriorating healthcare services due to insufficient fuel for ambulances and hospital backup power systems. The nation, among the world’s most petroleum-dependent for electricity generation, produces less than 40% of its required energy needs domestically.

Ian Ralby, director of I.R. Consilium, a maritime security consulting firm based in the United States, argued that America’s aggressive approach will not win favor among Cubans who have long desired political change.

“Every Cuban resident is suffering the acute inaccessibility to fuel and all the knock-on consequences in terms of access to food, hospitals and free movement,” he said.

This dramatic reduction in commerce has occurred without the White House reinstating export limitations to Cuba that were previously relaxed under the Biden presidency. Actually, shipments of American-produced chicken, pork, and other food products to Cuba — representing most U.S. exports to the island — reached $490 million last year, the highest level since 2009. Non-farming exports and charitable contributions, largely benefiting Cuba’s growing private economy, more than doubled.

However, encouraged by America’s capture of Maduro, Trump has progressively intensified his statements regarding Cuba, initially proposing a “friendly takeover” of the nation and recently telling conservative Latin American partners that he would “take care” of Cuba after concluding the Iranian conflict.

Though neither Trump nor his administration has explained precisely what this commitment entails, the ongoing presence of U.S. naval vessels in the Caribbean used during the Maduro operation has prompted companies and nations conducting business with Cuba to exercise self-restraint.

“Nobody wants to be on the radar of Trump’s Truth Social account,” said John Kavulich, president of the New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council.

Leading up to the American military’s removal of Maduro during a nighttime operation on January 3, Trump announced that the U.S. would prevent all Venezuelan petroleum deliveries to Cuba and actually captured several tankers to enforce what it termed a “quarantine,” using language from President John F. Kennedy’s response during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Later that month, Trump issued an executive directive threatening tariffs against any nation providing oil to Cuba. This warning concerned Mexican officials, who have historically opposed American policy toward Cuba and whose government-owned petroleum company Pemex became an important supply source last year as Venezuelan oil exports decreased.

Cuba has increased its criticism of what it describes as a “fuel blockade” by America. However, the Trump administration has rejected this characterization, likely recognizing that under international law, any naval action viewed as punishing civilians constitutes an illegal act of aggression outside wartime.

“Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign state — nobody dictates what we do,” Díaz-Canel said in a social media post in January. “Cuba does not attack; we are the victims of U.S. attacks for 66 years and we will prepare ourselves to defend the homeland with our last drop of blood.”

Facing growing criticism that American actions are causing starvation in Cuba, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has begun moderating some of the administration’s warnings. In January, the State Department delivered $3 million worth of food packages, water purification supplies, and other humanitarian aid to the island. Then last month, the White House announced it would permit American companies to deliver fuel — including Venezuelan petroleum — to private Cuban enterprises.

According to Rubio, the objective is to support the growth of the country’s small private business sector.

“The reason why those industries have not flourished in Cuba is because the regime has not allowed them to flourish,” Rubio said when announcing the private sales.

However, it remains uncertain whether any companies have begun fuel deliveries, and critics argue the approach is impractical since most Cuban businesses lack funding and the Cuban government controls gasoline distribution.

John Felder, owner of Premier Automotive Export, a Maryland-based company that has sold electric vehicles and scooters to Cuba since 2012, said most Cubans, despite their current suffering, worry about future developments.

“U.S. policies have created the most resilient people in the world and yet all they want to do is buy things in Miami like you and me,” said Felder, who recently returned from a four-day business visit to Havana and reports never witnessing worse conditions. “They want change but they don’t want to be controlled by the United States.”

FRANKFURT, Germany — European monetary officials decided Thursday to maintain current interest rate levels while expressing concern that ongoing conflict in Iran could drive up consumer prices through elevated energy costs, though officials acknowledged the long-term economic effects remain unclear.

The European Central Bank’s governing council kept its primary deposit rate steady at 2%, a level maintained since June 2025.

Bank officials stated the conflict “has made the outlook significantly more uncertain, creating upside risks for inflation and downside risks for economic growth.” Their post-meeting announcement indicated that long-term inflation forecasts stayed “well anchored” and future rate decisions would depend on economic data as it becomes available.

The Iranian conflict presents a challenge for global monetary policymakers: rising energy costs may push inflation higher in coming months, while prolonged energy market disruption could eventually slow economic expansion. Typically, central banks increase rates to combat rising prices and reduce them to encourage growth.

The European decision came after Britain’s central bank earlier Thursday chose to maintain its primary rate at 3.75% as dramatic increases in oil and natural gas prices following the Iran conflict’s onset have reignited inflation worries.

This follows Wednesday’s announcement by America’s Federal Reserve to maintain its benchmark rate unchanged.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized the growing uncertainty facing America’s economic and inflation outlook due to the Iran conflict, indicating the Fed may maintain current policy for an extended timeframe.

European inflation has declined from double-digit highs to 1.9% in February, aligning with the central bank’s 2% objective.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities in Hubei province have detained seven individuals and closed more than 200 websites as part of an intensified enforcement effort targeting fentanyl trafficking, according to state media reports released Thursday.

The enforcement action addresses a major source of friction between Washington and Beijing. President Donald Trump has imposed trade penalties on China in an effort to compel stronger action against the export of fentanyl precursor chemicals — the raw materials used to create the deadly synthetic opioid responsible for tens of thousands of fatal overdoses each year in America.

According to the Hubei Daily News online report, a specialized task force created in December has examined 22 cases throughout the province by February’s end. Along with the seven detainees, twelve additional individuals have faced “coercive measures,” a term that encompasses various forms of detention and questioning. Four businesses have also received penalties, the publication reported.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency published a corresponding report stating the task force was created following orders from China’s Ministry of Public Security. This enforcement campaign stems from China’s October commitment to combat precursor trafficking in exchange for reducing fentanyl-related trade penalties on Chinese imports from 20% to 10%.

In one investigation, intelligence provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency assisted Wuhan police in identifying a company that was distributing precursor chemicals along with stimulants, according to the Hubei Daily News. The company’s operator was taken into custody in early December with assistance from law enforcement in Shandong province, the report stated.

Another case resulted in two arrests involving suspects accused of creating front companies to distribute drugs and drug-manufacturing chemicals to international buyers, according to the report.

Trump initially imposed a 10% trade penalty on China citing fentanyl concerns after taking office last year, subsequently increasing it to 20%. He added further penalties on China and other nations beginning in April. China responded with its own trade measures in an escalating dispute. Both countries agreed to a one-year pause and the reduction of fentanyl-specific penalties to 10% following Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea at October’s end.

Preparations were in progress for a second face-to-face meeting in Beijing scheduled for early next month when Trump announced earlier this week that his administration was coordinating with China to postpone the visit, stating he would travel in approximately five to six weeks, placing the new timeframe in late April.

The high-profile rape trial of the Norwegian Crown Princess’s eldest son concluded Thursday with defense attorneys requesting his complete acquittal, wrapping up six weeks of court proceedings that have brought unwanted attention to Norway’s royal family.

Earlier this week, prosecutors requested a prison term of seven years and seven months for 29-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, who has denied all rape charges. The court’s decision will be announced at a future date.

Borg Høiby, who is Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son from an earlier relationship and stepson to Crown Prince Haakon, faces a total of 40 criminal charges. Among these are four rape counts allegedly committed between 2018 and 2024, with prosecutors claiming the victims could not provide consent due to being unconscious or otherwise unable to resist.

His defense team, representing the man who holds no royal titles or formal responsibilities, argued that no evidence exists to support any of the rape accusations.

The proceedings at Oslo District Court have generated significant media attention both domestically and internationally, casting an uncomfortable spotlight on the royal family and revealing aspects of Norway’s upper-class social environment rarely seen publicly.

Adding to the royal family’s troubles, Crown Princess Mette-Marit has recently faced questions about her past associations with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, though she faces no criminal allegations herself.

The trial featured testimony from approximately 70 witnesses, with prosecutors presenting hundreds of text messages and digital evidence pieces, including photographs and videos retrieved from Borg Høiby’s mobile device.

Throughout the proceedings, Borg Høiby has maintained his innocence regarding sexual activity with unconscious women, insisting all encounters were mutually agreed upon. However, he has acknowledged guilt on several minor charges, including drug possession, transporting 3.5 kilograms of cannabis in 2020, traffic infractions, and violating restraining orders against a former girlfriend. He has also partially accepted responsibility for violence and threat-related charges while disputing crucial elements, particularly regarding his intentions.

His legal team contended that Borg Høiby has endured exceptional media scrutiny because of his royal family ties, which they claim has influenced both public opinion and the case’s circumstances.

During testimony, Borg Høiby described how the intense public attention had “erased him as a person,” explaining that he had been rejected by most of his friends and was battling depression.

“My whole life is common property,” he testified. “I am no longer Marius, I’m a monster.”

Defense attorney Petar Sekulic stated Thursday that media attention “bordered on the insane, but almost exceeded anything one could have feared beforehand.”

The investigation into Borg Høiby’s activities began in 2024 when authorities responded to reports of a violent incident at an apartment in Oslo’s affluent Frogner district. Following his initial arrest and release, the case grew as additional women stepped forward with accusations.

The four rape charges form the core of the trial, with each allegedly occurring following consensual sexual activity. The key legal questions focus on whether the women were able to resist and whether Borg Høiby recognized their condition.

Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø argued Wednesday that Borg Høiby should be evaluated “not for who he is, but for what he has done,” describing what he characterized as consistent behavioral patterns throughout the charges. He highlighted repeated rule violations and boundary crossings, including police interactions, restraining order breaches, and what he termed disregard for women’s consent to sexual activity or being recorded.

“The rules are designed so that one cannot evade guilt by getting high or drunk,” Henriksbø argued, urging the court to evaluate the case from the perspective of how a sober individual would have interpreted the circumstances.

“Rape and abuse in close relationships are among the most serious acts one can expose others to, and that must be reflected in the punishment,” Henriksbø told the court.

In Thursday’s defense closing arguments, Sekulic maintained that no evidence substantiated the rape allegations and that none of the images or videos presented during trial demonstrated criminal activity. He challenged the alleged victims’ reliability.

While Sekulic admitted that certain aspects of Borg Høiby’s conduct had been “unsympathetic,” he argued this should not influence the court’s decision.

“What can be described as bad behavior, bad morals, which cannot be punished under the criminal law, should be disregarded,” he told the court. “It is irrelevant.”

LONDON — A London courtroom saw two defendants Thursday facing serious allegations of conducting intelligence operations targeting Jewish community sites on behalf of Iran’s government.

The accused include 40-year-old Nematollah Shahsavani, who holds both Iranian and British citizenship, along with 22-year-old Iranian national Alireza Farasati. Both face charges of participating in activities designed to benefit a foreign intelligence operation during a five-week period from July 9 through August 15 of the previous year.

Prosecutor Louise Attrill outlined the allegations during the Westminster Magistrates’ Court proceeding, stating the pair “are suspected of assisting the Iranian intelligence service by conducting hostile surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Israeli and Jewish community.”

Attrill detailed how the surveillance operation allegedly focused on multiple sensitive locations throughout London, including the Israeli diplomatic mission, Jewish community facilities, an educational institution, and the nation’s most historic synagogue.

The court session did not require either defendant to formally respond to the charges, though Farasati’s legal representative indicated his client plans to contest the allegations.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled both suspects must remain in custody pending their upcoming appearance at London’s Central Criminal Court, scheduled for April 17.

Authorities took both London residents into custody on March 6. The investigation also led to the arrest of two additional individuals with British-Iranian dual citizenship, though they have since been released with no charges filed.

Britain’s domestic intelligence chief Ken McCallum revealed in October that security services had successfully prevented more than 20 “potentially lethal Iran-backed plots” during the preceding year.

Nations across Asia are implementing emergency measures to safeguard energy supplies and shield citizens from rising costs as military conflicts involving Iran severely impact oil and gas deliveries through crucial shipping routes.

The energy shortage is affecting Asia more severely than other regions due to the continent’s dependence on imported fuel, with much of it transported via the Strait of Hormuz — a vital waterway now facing significant disruption. Since hostilities between Israeli and U.S. forces against Iran, along with Iranian counterattacks on Israel and Gulf states began on February 28, fewer than 90 ships — primarily from India, Pakistan, and China — have successfully navigated the strait.

“The countries that are exposed to that supply disruption are not so much in Europe, or in the Americas, they’re actually really in the Asia region,” said Michael Williamson of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Ramnath Iyer from the U.S.-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis warns Asia should brace for “cascading impacts into all economic activities.”

Japan faces particularly severe exposure to strait disruptions, depending on the passage for approximately 93% of its petroleum imports. Fuel costs are already rising sharply — regular gasoline reached about 175 yen ($1.09) per liter on Thursday, climbing from roughly 144 yen ($0.91) just one month earlier.

Japanese authorities have responded by releasing 15 days worth of private oil stockpiles, then tapping a month’s supply from government reserves. Ministry officials report the nation maintained approximately 250 days of reserves at the close of last year.

However, public anxiety is increasing. Experts caution about potential parallels to the 1970s oil crisis — also sparked by Middle Eastern turmoil — which caused severe shortages and lengthy fuel lines. Pressure is mounting to accelerate renewable energy adoption, as Japan trails other developed countries in wind and solar capacity.

South Korea receives roughly 70% of its oil and 20% of its liquefied natural gas from Middle Eastern sources. Higher petroleum costs have created lines at discount fuel stations, while delivery personnel, truck drivers, and greenhouse operators struggle with increased expenses. Nevertheless, supply interruptions remain contained, and government representatives say reserves could sustain the country for approximately seven months.

Seoul is implementing additional measures to strengthen energy security by removing national restrictions on coal power generation, planning nuclear output increases, and evaluating potential resumption of Russian crude oil and naphtha purchases — essential for plastics production.

While China relies heavily on strait shipments — the world’s largest by volume — the nation remains relatively protected. Substantial strategic oil and gas stockpiles, combined with expanding renewable sources now comprising about 30% of its energy portfolio, have helped China weather immediate impacts.

Chinese citizens are nonetheless experiencing higher travel and fuel expenses. Airlines are increasing international route fares to counter soaring fuel costs, with some budget carriers doubling ticket prices on busy routes, according to domestic media reports.

Vietnam’s export-focused manufacturing sector faces rising fuel and shipping costs that are increasing production expenses. Government media reported steel, textile, and footwear producers confronting higher input prices, while retailers indicate suppliers are requesting price hikes or temporarily halting deliveries.

Climbing diesel costs are also elevating transportation and farming expenses. Tourism and passenger travel face mounting pressure. Officials warned of potential jet fuel shortages in April, encouraging airlines to review schedules and prepare for possible service reductions.

Vietnamese authorities say they are employing price controls to prevent sharp fuel cost increases and maintain market stability.

Energy supply interruptions have also affected Thailand, where LNG generates more than half of electricity, with approximately 40% imported from Middle Eastern countries.

Thailand’s emergency energy strategy halted petroleum exports, increased coal production and hydroelectric generation, and instructed government facilities to reduce energy usage.

As Thailand turns to spot markets for expensive LNG purchases, specialists warn energy costs will climb as national subsidy funds are exhausted.

Indonesia has managed to avoid raising energy prices thus far, but this protection may end after Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic celebration concluding Ramadan.

With the conflict continuing, analysts predict Indonesia will soon confront a challenging decision: maintain expensive subsidies protecting consumers from higher prices, or reduce them to remain within budget constraints — risking increased inflation.

The Philippines has distributed cash payments of 5,000 pesos ($83) to approximately 139,000 tricycle taxi operators in Manila to help counter rising fuel expenses. The initiative will expand nationally to include other public transport drivers, while fuel subsidies will extend to fishermen and farmers.

Government offices have also adopted four-day work schedules to reduce energy consumption, and proposals are under consideration to lower biofuel costs.

To address the energy shortage, Pakistan mandated two-week school closures and reduced government vehicle fuel allowances by 50% for two months.

Officials report alternative oil supply channels are being investigated, including imports from Saudi Arabia. Energy shipments are also arriving through the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

For conservation purposes, next week’s Pakistan Day parade was cancelled. The anniversary will be observed with a simple flag ceremony instead.

India has increased domestic cooking gas production and prioritized household distribution. Industry associations say this action has reduced supplies for commercial users including hotels and restaurants.

Nearly half of India’s crude oil imports and LNG transit through the strait. LPG serves as the primary cooking fuel for millions of households, making reliable supplies essential for daily life and broader economic stability.

Two Indian-flagged LPG tankers have crossed the strait since fighting began, easing some supply pressure.

Nepal’s only petroleum distributor, the government-operated Nepal Oil Corporation, began rationing cooking gas by filling cylinders to only half capacity — approximately 7.1 kilograms (15 pounds) — to extend supplies to more families.

Gasoline prices increased by roughly 10% and authorities encouraged households to adopt induction cookers to reduce gas consumption.

Scotland’s parliament has turned down proposed assisted suicide legislation following an extensive period of deliberation and strong advocacy efforts from pro-life organizations. The measure was defeated by a vote of 69 to 57.

Simon Calvert, representing the Christian Institute, expressed gratitude for the outcome. “We thank God that lawmakers got the message,” Calvert stated. “So many colleges of medicine and disability groups expressed concern about the risks to the vulnerable and the sheer unworkability of the proposals.”

Meanwhile, similar assisted suicide legislation remains under consideration in England.

Slovenia’s citizens head to the polls Sunday for a parliamentary election that will determine whether liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob retains power or loses to populist challenger Janez Jansa, a Trump supporter, following a contentious campaign shadowed by claims of international interference and corruption allegations.

Polling data shows conflicting results, but political experts anticipate a close contest between Jansa’s Slovene Democratic Party (SDS) and Golob’s Freedom Movement (GS). Neither party appears positioned to secure a majority in the 90-member parliament, meaning smaller coalition allies may ultimately decide the winner.

The election results will shape both domestic and international policy directions for this European Union and NATO member nation of 2 million citizens, which declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

During Golob’s leadership, Slovenia became among the rare European nations to acknowledge Palestinian statehood and implemented an arms embargo against Israel during its Gaza military operations last year. These positions would likely reverse under Jansa, the former prime minister who supports Israel and maintains close ties with Hungary’s longtime nationalist leader Viktor Orban.

Jansa has pledged to completely restructure Golob’s domestic policies by implementing business tax reductions while slashing government support for civil society organizations, social programs and media outlets.

“These are … perhaps the most important elections ever in Slovenia because they will decide if Slovenia remains a democratic welfare state or it aligns with illiberal democracies,” said Robert Botteri, a long-time editor at the Mladina weekly.

Slovenia’s strong industrial foundation helped it transition more successfully after Yugoslavia’s collapse compared to other former Yugoslav republics like Serbia or Bosnia, which struggled with warfare, economic penalties and political discord.

However, challenges persist. While Golob’s GS achieved an overwhelming victory in 2022, public support has declined partly due to voter perceptions that his administration failed to deliver promised improvements to public services, particularly healthcare.

The campaign intensified this month when anonymous online videos surfaced allegedly revealing government corruption, claims that Golob refutes.

Additionally, reports emerged this week suggesting Jansa held meetings with representatives from Israeli private intelligence company Black Cube, sparking concerns about foreign electoral interference. Jansa acknowledges meeting with a Black Cube consultant but denies any misconduct.

Golob indicated he has addressed these concerns with fellow European leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron informed reporters Thursday that he was aware of what he characterized as “clear and documented interference, disinformation and meddling from third countries” before Slovenia’s election.

“Europeans must absolutely mobilise to protect our democracies from this kind of interference,” he said.

Throughout the campaign, Golob’s party and supporters have also reported incidents of dead animals being suspended from their campaign materials nationwide. Reuters could not verify the perpetrators of these acts.

“This has certainly been a dirty campaign,” said Tereza Novak, a GS lawmaker campaigning on the main square in the capital Ljubljana.

Miha Kovac, a university lecturer, expresses concern that the circulating allegations may discourage voter participation.

“At the end of the day nobody will believe anybody. There will be a huge erosion of trust in society,” he said.