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Israeli warplanes launched extensive overnight strikes Friday against Iranian military targets in Tehran and central Iran, marking an escalation in the two-week military campaign involving Israeli and U.S. forces, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The operation included a major assault on Mehrabad Airport in Iran’s capital, where Israeli forces destroyed 16 aircraft belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force. Military officials said these planes were being used to transport weapons to Hezbollah forces.

An IDF spokesperson described the airport as “a central hub for arming and financing the regime’s terror proxies in the Middle East.”

During the same night, Israeli fighter aircraft launched additional strikes across multiple Iranian military locations, releasing approximately 230 bombs throughout the mission. The IDF reported that one target was a subterranean facility where ballistic missiles were stored and produced, with hundreds of Iranian military personnel stationed there.

Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at Israeli territory, forcing citizens nationwide to seek shelter as warning sirens sounded across the country.

Data from Ynet indicates that Iran has fired over 200 missiles at Israel since hostilities began. Initial attacks included approximately 80 missiles on day one and around 60 on day two, before decreasing to under 20 missiles daily. Lebanon has contributed roughly 200 additional projectiles to the attacks.

The report also noted that 42 drones were launched from Iran toward Israel, with another 43 originating from Lebanon. These attacks on Israeli territory have displaced approximately 3,100 residents from their homes.

President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that no agreement would be reached with Tehran unless Iran accepts “unconditional surrender.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. military is sending specialized anti-drone systems to the Middle East to counter Iranian drone attacks. These systems were previously field-tested during the Ukraine conflict and, as American officials described, received their “baptism of fire” in that theater.

Lebanon is witnessing another mass exodus as tens of thousands of civilians abandon their homes following Hezbollah’s decision to fire rockets into northern Israel, triggering deadly retaliatory strikes.

The Iranian-backed militia’s rocket attack caused no casualties in Israel, but the response was swift and devastating. Israeli bombardments across southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern districts left 31 people dead and dozens wounded, forcing families to relive a nightmare many experienced just over a year ago.

During the early morning hours, desperate families packed whatever belongings they could carry and began fleeing northward. The scenes evoked painful memories of the fall 2024 Israeli offensive that killed thousands over two months and destroyed countless homes across eastern and southern Lebanon.

“What idiots, dragging us into this again; I can’t find another word to describe them,” a young Lebanese woman told The Media Line after a sleepless night of bombardment. “Now, we have to watch their people fleeing the streets and dying.”

Military experts have characterized Hezbollah’s choice to join the broader regional conflict as dangerously irresponsible. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has announced that Lebanon will ban Hezbollah’s military operations.

Israeli forces issued evacuation orders Monday morning for 53 communities across southern Lebanon. With limited options available, most displaced families headed toward Beirut, where city streets once again became temporary shelters. Educational facilities that housed refugees just over a year ago are reopening their doors to the displaced, though media access to these locations remains restricted.

Jude, who requested anonymity, described her family’s harrowing experience. Originally from a border village they haven’t seen in two and a half years due to occupation and destruction, they had been staying in Nabatiyeh, roughly 13 kilometers from the Israeli border.

“We are from a village on the Lebanese border, but we haven’t been able to return for two and a half years because our lands have been occupied and our homes destroyed,” she explained. “There is only a strip of land between us and the Israeli enemy.”

Their journey to Beirut stretched nine grueling hours – a trip that typically takes less than 90 minutes. Standing in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square with tears streaming down her face, Jude expressed her desperation: “We can no longer bear what has happened to us, what they have done to us, and we don’t know where we are going or what God has in store for us.”

The family of six has reached their breaking point after multiple displacements. “We’ve been through so much, and we’re still in war after war, and there’s no rest,” Jude said while sitting in the shade with three daughters as her husband and son slept in their car.

Housing costs have skyrocketed amid the crisis. “There’s nowhere else to go, and when something happens, everyone gets greedy and rents go up,” she noted. “The cheapest room costs $1,700, and it’s an empty room, with nothing in it.”

The psychological toll has been severe. “Since the war, we’ve been dominated by bitterness, the heat, and fear, and we’re in a very bad mental state,” Jude shared, adding that she “used to go to the psychiatric hospital a lot because of this situation.”

What makes this round of violence particularly frustrating for many Lebanese is that Hezbollah, rather than Israel, initiated the escalation. However, most civilians remain hesitant to openly criticize the militant group.

Lama Alam, a 40-year-old mother of five originally from Aleppo, Syria, who has lived in Beirut’s southern suburbs for 14 years, grew visibly uncomfortable when asked about Hezbollah’s role. “I don’t know anything about that,” she responded.

Alam described her family’s narrow escape: “God knows how we escaped last night, because just before we left, a shell hit us; some died, others survived, but we’re not sure who.” Her six-month-old baby cried in the intense sun as they sat on blankets with about 20 other people, including her sister and sister-in-law.

The family paid 1.5 million Lebanese pounds (approximately $15) for multiple taxis to make the brief journey to safety. During the 2024 conflict, Syrian refugees like Alam’s family were often denied entry to school shelters under unofficial Lebanese government policies.

“We are tired of the war; we have been forced to abandon our homes several times,” Alam said. “We don’t know if we’ll be here for several days, or months, or even years! We want to stay in our homes; we shouldn’t have to suffer this humiliation.” She emphasized that returning to Syria was not a viable option.

Fresh strikes continued hitting Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon throughout Monday morning, with casualty reports still unclear. Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir declared that the military was operating both defensively and offensively.

“We must prepare for many days of combat,” Zamir stated. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for firing on Israel.”

Katz specifically targeted Hezbollah’s leadership, posting on X: “Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s secretary general, who decided to fire under pressure from Iran, is now a clear target for elimination.”

As fighting continues, Lebanese civilians who played no role in starting this conflict find themselves once again paying the heaviest price for decisions made by others.

Warning shots fired into the air have become the urgent signal for residents to evacuate Beirut’s southern suburbs as Israeli forces issued sweeping evacuation orders affecting more than 700,000 people on Thursday. The unprecedented directive targeted four suburban municipalities in the Dahieh area, creating widespread panic and gridlock throughout Lebanon’s capital.

Ahmed, a 30-year resident of the southern suburbs originally from southern Lebanon, described the chaotic scene as he attempted to flee the area. “This is complete madness,” he said, navigating through traffic, motorcycles, and desperate crowds trying to escape. Speaking to The Media Line, Ahmed explained how the warning gunfire had already saved his parents’ lives the day before. “When Israel announced at seven in the morning that it would bomb a building on their street, the warning shots allowed them to evacuate, and they haven’t returned,” he said.

The evacuation order represents an escalation in the conflict that began Monday, with fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah intensifying over recent days. Lebanese sources report that Israeli troops have seized control of five strategic border positions, allegedly violating the ceasefire agreement that went into effect in November 2024.

The human toll continues to mount, with 102 fatalities and 638 injuries reported since hostilities resumed. Wednesday’s evacuation order for all communities south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon displaced approximately 250,000 people. The Thursday directive for Beirut’s suburbs, issued with a 2:30 p.m. deadline, forced an additional 700,000 residents to abandon their homes immediately.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee provided specific evacuation routes through social media, directing residents of Bourj el-Barajneh and Hadath to “head east towards Mount Lebanon on the Beirut-Damascus highway.” He instructed those from Hreik and Chiyah to “head north towards Tripoli on the Beirut-Tripoli highway, and east towards Mount Lebanon on the Matn Expressway,” warning that “any movement south could endanger their lives.”

Ahmed’s friend Rifat, examining the evacuation map, criticized the scope of the orders. “What they’re doing is unspeakable,” he told The Media Line. “It looks like a real estate scheme.”

The massive displacement has created a humanitarian crisis, with government-operated schools at capacity and many families unable to afford alternative housing. Some displaced persons have been forced to sleep in vehicles, while others who spent up to 14 hours attempting to flee southern Lebanon have returned home after failing to locate shelter.

The situation has grown more dire as Israeli strikes have reportedly hit buildings housing displaced civilians in areas outside Hezbollah’s influence. This has led many residents to conclude that no location offers safety, with some choosing to remain in their homes as an act of defiance.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reached out to French President Emmanuel Macron, requesting intervention “to prevent attacks on the southern suburbs, following threats from the Israeli army.” Macron responded on social media, stating: “For Lebanon, we must act; we must do everything possible to prevent this country, so close to France, from being dragged back into war.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, speaking from the Israeli border, declared: “Very soon, Dahieh will resemble Khan Yunis.”

As evening approached, crowds gathered on hills overlooking the threatened areas, including Ahmed and Rifat who positioned themselves in Baabda to document events. “This is also part of Lebanon, these threatened people are also Lebanese, so [political leaders] should do something,” Rifat declared while filming the aftermath of Israeli bombardments.

The southern suburbs remained largely dark as night fell, with minimal lighting visible and smoke still rising from recent attacks. Young Lebanese photographers waited with cameras ready to document further destruction, their shutters clicking only when a commercial aircraft departed through the haze, carrying fellow citizens away from the conflict zone.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched a series of intensified strikes against Kurdish opposition camps in Iraq as tensions escalate between Tehran and a newly-formed coalition of Kurdish political groups.

The military offensive has targeted facilities belonging to six Kurdish organizations that recently united against Iran’s government, including a Wednesday night assault on a Komala camp and Monday drone strikes against the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran’s base in Koya, Iraq.

According to Kurdish news outlet Rudaw, the targeted facilities house families of opposition fighters. The Kurdistan Freedom Party reported that one of its Peshmerga soldiers died in an IRGC missile strike on their headquarters.

Tasnim News Agency, which has ties to the Revolutionary Guard, confirmed Tuesday that Iranian forces launched 30 drones in what they called a “targeted intelligence operation” against Kurdish groups allegedly “planning infiltration and action against the country.” The agency claimed the positions were “powerfully destroyed.”

Later reports from the same outlet alleged strikes on a U.S. military installation in Erbil, though no other news organizations have verified this claim. These developments coincide with ongoing military exchanges between Iran and both the United States and Israel over recent days.

Shiwa Hassanpour, a student and human rights advocate in Erbil, described the continuing impact on civilians. She told The Media Line that missile fragments struck her home during one attack. “The IRGC attacks on the Kurdistan Region intensified significantly on Wednesday night,” she said, noting that “many areas of Erbil suffered damage, and some people were injured.” Much of the civilian harm results from intercepted missiles and drones crashing into populated areas, she explained.

Kurdish political organizations have disputed media reports suggesting they plan immediate military action inside Iran. Two sources in the Kurdistan Region told The Media Line that an Axios report claiming Kurdish forces were preparing border incursions and engaging with CIA and Mossad officials was inaccurate, stating that their fighters remain at established bases.

However, major news organizations including Associated Press and Reuters have reported discussions between Kurdish groups and U.S. officials about potential operations against Iran’s government amid the current regional conflict.

President Donald Trump reportedly held phone conversations Sunday with key Iraqi Kurdistan leaders Masoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Bafel Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, discussing the ongoing confrontation with Iran. According to Axios, these calls resulted from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s efforts to strengthen U.S.-Kurdistan coordination.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is weighing support for Kurdish opposition forces, while CNN confirmed the president spoke with Mustafa Hijri, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, one of the most prominent Kurdish political organizations.

Current security agreements between Iran and Iraq require Kurdish opposition groups to maintain camps away from the border under strict limitations, prohibiting military operations against Tehran from Iraqi territory. These accords mandate disarmament of the groups, though complete weapons surrender has faced resistance from Kurdish organizations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied Wednesday that the U.S. is providing arms to Iranian Kurds, though media reports indicate increased Israeli outreach to Kurdish parties recently. Thursday evening, President Trump told Reuters he welcomed and supported Kurdish operations against Iran’s regime.

Many Iranian Kurdish organizations have maintained positive relationships with Israel for years. The Kurdistan Free Life Party, one of the six groups in the new alliance, has stated openly that cooperation with Israel would be welcome if it advances Iranian freedom.

Peyman Viyan, one of two leaders of the Kurdistan Free Life Party and the only female leader among Iranian Kurdish groups, said in one interview that “at present we have no contact with the United States and Israel,” but told Israel’s Channel 12 that Iranian liberation could come through Iranian-Israeli cooperation.

Abdullah Mohtadi, secretary-general of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, recently met with U.S. Congress members during a Washington visit. Kurdish organizations, which command substantial numbers of armed Peshmerga fighters, appear to have gained prominence in U.S. and Israeli strategy during the current conflict with Iran.

Komala, described as a leftist party with moderate positions, announced Wednesday it was joining the coalition of five other Kurdish organizations opposing Iran’s government. The six groups – Kurdistan Democratic Party, Komala, Komala of the Toilers, Kurdistan Free Life Party, Kurdistan Freedom Party, and Khabat – now represent thousands of Peshmerga fighters in the Kurdistan Region and maintain active support networks inside Iranian Kurdistan.

Nearly all Iranian Kurdish political movements seek autonomy for Iranian Kurdistan and broader Iranian freedom. Recently, exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, a prominent opposition figure, used strong language against the Kurdish coalition’s joint actions and threatened “suppression by the army,” generating widespread criticism. On Tuesday, he issued a video message walking back his previous statements, saying he supports ending discrimination against Iran’s ethnic minorities, including Kurds.

Kurdish opponents of Iran’s government have engaged in repeated clashes with the Revolutionary Guard in recent weeks, with Tehran responding through missile strikes on their facilities. Since Sunday, Iran has significantly escalated missile and drone launches against Iranian Kurdish party bases and camps in Iraq, with additional drone strikes reported Thursday.

Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, said Thursday he wants the area kept out of the broader conflict.

Earlier this week, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, without specifically naming the Revolutionary Guard, condemned ongoing missile and drone strikes as “terrorist attacks” and called on Iraq’s federal government to intervene.

Thursday saw Kurdistan Region media outlets denouncing Iran’s attacks on Erbil and surrounding areas, as well as strikes on camps housing Iranian Kurdish party families, warning that the operations endanger civilian lives.

AJMAN, United Arab Emirates — As Middle Eastern conflict disrupts air travel throughout the Gulf region, an Indian businessman residing in the United Arab Emirates has converted his agricultural property into a sanctuary for displaced travelers. The makeshift shelter features sleeping tents and bedding for guests, who contribute by cooking communal meals, sharing refreshments, engaging in cricket matches, and participating in yoga sessions across the property’s open areas.

Dr. Dhiraj Jain, who leads 1XL Holdings, established this temporary refuge following widespread flight cancellations that left hundreds of people unable to depart from Dubai. Among those seeking shelter, Umang Soin discovered the farm option when his flights were grounded and noted that Jain coordinated transport services to relocate guests from their hotels to the property.

PARIS (AP) — Attendees at Saturday’s Hermès fashion presentation in Paris experienced the autumn collection through multiple senses, with the fragrance hitting them before the visual spectacle began.

The fashion house converted the Garde Républicaine headquarters — home to Paris’ ceremonial mounted police unit — into an indoor woodland environment, covering surfaces with thick, moisture-laden moss that released an earthy, soil-like aroma throughout the venue.

During a Paris Fashion Week schedule that still awaits presentations from Chanel and Louis Vuitton, Hermès demonstrated that true luxury makes its impact through subtlety rather than volume.

The brand simply altered the entire atmosphere of the space.

Fashion models appeared through glowing round portals cut into the venue walls, resembling silhouettes emerging from a bright full moon, then proceeded along an elevated, curved runway suspended over the plant life below.

The presentation achieved dramatic impact without resorting to cheap tricks.

The staging accomplished exactly what creative director Nadège Vanhée intended: creating a sense of disorientation for viewers.

Vanhée, who has overseen Hermès women’s fashion since 2014, named her fall-winter lineup “Entre chien et loup” — a French phrase describing twilight, that uncertain time when distinguishing between a dog and wolf becomes impossible.

Her program notes referenced Hecate, the flame-carrying deity of shadows, although the actual garments emphasized strength and athleticism rather than ancient mythology — featuring sharp lines, form-fitting silhouettes, and movement-friendly construction.

Leather materials took center stage throughout the collection. Flowing outerwear featured oversized Tuscan sheepskin collars.

Front-zippered mini dresses in deep navy opened to display contrasting blouses underneath.

A vibrant orange ostrich-hide jumpsuit, cinched with a belt, combined motorcycle aesthetics with Hermès sophistication.

The brand’s horse-riding heritage appeared through jodhpur pants and low-heeled equestrian boots, while shiny lambskin bicycle shorts matched with pilot-style jackets moved these traditional elements toward edgier, metropolitan styling.

The color scheme defied conventional expectations.

Vanhée appeared to suggest that nighttime encompasses far more than simple black tones.

Her chosen hues ranged from bright sulfur yellow through deep oxblood red, woodland green to shimmering burgundy — finishes that reflected and transformed under lighting like living materials.

Zipper details appeared throughout the collection, cutting diagonally across jacket fronts or extending the complete length of dresses — serving practical purposes while adding visual interest, implying each piece could be modified, restructured, or renewed.

Double-breasted suit jackets and slim-cut trousers provided structured foundation elements for the collection, while padded silk pieces featuring cloud-pattern prints introduced occasional softer touches.

The complete collection made its statement through understated power.

Saudi Arabia has delivered a clear warning to Iran, demanding an end to attacks on the kingdom while threatening military retaliation if strikes against Saudi territory and energy facilities persist, according to four sources with knowledge of the communications.

The diplomatic warning was delivered before Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a public apology on Saturday to Gulf nations for Tehran’s recent military actions, which appeared designed to calm regional tensions after Iranian strikes damaged civilian areas.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan communicated Riyadh’s stance directly to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi during a phone conversation two days prior, the sources revealed.

According to the sources, Prince Faisal emphasized Saudi Arabia’s willingness to support diplomatic mediation efforts focused on reducing tensions and reaching a negotiated resolution. He stressed that neither Saudi Arabia nor other Gulf nations had permitted the United States to utilize their airspace or territory for launching attacks against Iran.

However, the Saudi minister also made clear that continued Iranian assaults on Saudi soil or energy infrastructure would compel the kingdom to authorize U.S. military forces to operate from Saudi bases, the sources indicated. Prince Faisal warned that Saudi Arabia would strike back if attacks on the nation’s vital energy installations persisted.

The kingdom has maintained ongoing diplomatic communication with Tehran through its ambassador since U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran commenced on February 28, following the breakdown of negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program, sources said.

Neither the Saudi nor Iranian foreign ministries provided responses to requests for comment.

Over the past week, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have all experienced intensive drone and missile bombardment from Iranian forces.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the opening day of the conflict. In response, Tehran launched attacks against Israel and Gulf Arab nations that host U.S. military installations, while Israel has targeted Lebanon’s Iran-supported Hezbollah militant organization.

During a Saturday interview, Araqchi confirmed ongoing communication with his Saudi counterpart and other Saudi leadership, stating that Riyadh had guaranteed Tehran it remained fully dedicated to preventing the use of its territory, waters or airspace for operations against Iran.

Pezeshkian announced that Iran’s interim leadership council had authorized halting attacks on neighboring nations, with the exception of cases where Iran faces assault from those countries.

“I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” he stated.

The significance of Pezeshkian’s statements remains uncertain, as additional reports emerged Saturday of continued strikes targeting Gulf states.

Suggesting potential disagreements within Iran’s leadership structure, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which serves as the unified command center for Iranian military forces, released a statement declaring that U.S. and Israeli bases and interests throughout the region would continue as targets.

The command emphasized that Iran’s military respected neighboring states’ sovereignty and interests, claiming no direct action had been taken against them. However, it designated U.S. and Israeli military installations and assets on land, sea and in the air across the region as primary targets that would face “powerful and heavy” attacks from Iranian forces.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that Iran had “apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack.”

Two Iranian sources verified that a phone conversation occurred in which Riyadh instructed Tehran to cease attacks on Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf nations. Iran reportedly restated its position that the strikes targeted U.S. interests and military installations hosted on Gulf territory, rather than the Gulf countries directly.

One Iranian source revealed that Tehran had demanded the closure of U.S. bases in the region and called for certain Gulf states to cease sharing intelligence with Washington that Iran suspects is being utilized for attacks against it.

Another Iranian source indicated that some military commanders were advocating for continued strikes, claiming the U.S. was utilizing Gulf state bases and airspace to conduct operations against Iran.

Iran had recently improved relations with its Gulf neighbors, including former regional rival Saudi Arabia. This diplomatic progress collapsed amid the barrage of drones and missiles launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards over the past week.

Multiple rockets were launched toward the United States Embassy compound in Baghdad on Saturday evening, with warning sirens blaring across the area, according to security officials and eyewitnesses.

This marks the first assault on the embassy facility in more than two years. The most recent previous incident occurred in late 2023, when approximately seven mortar shells struck the compound during a series of coordinated attacks by Iranian-backed militia groups against American facilities in Iraq and Syria, stemming from Washington’s backing of Israel during its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions in the vicinity of the embassy located in central Baghdad at approximately 9 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), followed by emergency sirens instructing residents to seek shelter.

According to a high-ranking Iraqi security official speaking to Reuters, the compound’s C-RAM defense system successfully intercepted one of the incoming rockets, with none of the projectiles breaching the embassy perimeter. The official confirmed no American personnel were harmed in the incident.

This assault suggests that Iranian-backed Iraqi militia organizations — who have pledged to seek revenge for the death of Iran’s supreme leader — have expanded their scope of operations beyond targeting US military installations in Iraqi Kurdistan and American energy facilities to now encompass the US Embassy.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has directed security personnel to locate and apprehend those responsible for launching the projectiles. In an official statement from his office, al-Sudani described the perpetrators as “rogue groups operating outside the law that do not represent the will of the Iraqi people.”

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An Argentine military police officer who endured more than a year of imprisonment in Venezuela is calling on world leaders to help free two dozen foreign prisoners who remain locked up in the notorious Rodeo I facility.

Nahuel Gallo, who walked free this past Sunday following 448 days of captivity in a detention center near Caracas, spoke at a press conference Wednesday in Buenos Aires, declaring that his own liberation feels incomplete while 24 other international detainees remain behind bars.

“My mind is still in prison,” Gallo stated during the media event, which included appearances by several top Argentine officials. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno expressed gratitude to allied nations such as the United States, Italy and Israel for their assistance in securing Gallo’s freedom.

The military officer was taken into custody on December 8, 2024, while on personal leave to see family members. Gallo, who had been serving in Argentina’s central Mendoza province, faced espionage allegations, according to statements from Argentina’s Foreign Ministry.

At the time of his arrest, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab claimed Gallo “had attempted to enter Venezuelan territory irregularly” and was “concealing his true criminal plan under the guise of a romantic visit.”

Saab further alleged connections between the officer and “international far-right groups.”

Argentine officials countered these claims, stating that Gallo had made the trip to see his Venezuelan partner and their child together.

Earlier on Wednesday, before the press briefing took place, an Argentine federal judge called upon Gallo to provide testimony in proceedings examining potential crimes against humanity linked to former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s administration.

“Gallo could contribute his knowledge of the events under investigation, which were reported to have been carried out by the Venezuelan state apparatus,” read the court summons from Argentine Judge Sebastián Ramos, which The Associated Press obtained.

During his public appearance, Gallo made no reference to the legal summons and did not indicate his intentions regarding potential testimony. He instead asked reporters for time and understanding, explaining that he remains unprepared to share the full extent of his experiences.

“I still can’t talk about the atrocities they committed,” Gallo said.

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The Ecuadorian government has given Cuba’s ambassador, Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez, along with his entire diplomatic team, a 48-hour deadline to exit the South American nation after declaring them unwelcome on Wednesday.

In an official statement, Ecuador’s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced the action was taken under international diplomatic protocols but offered no reasoning for expelling the Cuban diplomats. Under the Vienna Convention, nations can remove diplomatic personnel without providing justification.

Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Cuba’s embassy in Quito for comment were unsuccessful.

This diplomatic move follows President Daniel Noboa’s executive order from Tuesday that terminated the duties of Ecuador’s ambassador to Cuba, José María Borja, again without providing any explanation.

On the same day, Ecuador and the United States revealed they had launched combined military efforts targeting organized criminal networks operating within Ecuador.

These actions occur as President Donald Trump escalates pressure on Cuba, particularly following a U.S. military intervention that removed former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power.

Trump has subsequently imposed limitations on petroleum exports to Cuba and declared the Cuban government was “ready to fall.” Ecuador has positioned itself as a key partner for the Trump administration in regional efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized criminal activities.

At least 31 people suffered injuries when a blast rocked a nightclub in Trujillo, Peru during the early morning hours of Saturday, according to regional authorities.

Officials from Peru’s La Libertad region confirmed that local hospitals are currently providing care to victims of the explosion, while investigators work to determine what triggered the incident.

According to La Republica newspaper, which cited regional health officials, four individuals remain in critical condition following the blast. Health authorities also confirmed that several minors were among those wounded in the incident.

The cause of the explosion remains unknown. The incident comes amid rising violence linked to organized criminal activity throughout Peru, and local news outlets report that Trujillo has seen previous smaller-scale attacks targeting nightclub venues.

The blast occurred while Peruvian musical act Amor Rebelde was performing, causing club-goers to flee in panic seeking safety.

Band members from Amor Rebelde escaped injury and later issued a Facebook statement addressing what they described as “unfortunate events” that took place at the venue where they were performing.

Footage broadcast on Peruvian television captured the chaotic aftermath, showing the moments following a thunderous explosion that could be heard on the recording.

WASHINGTON – When Iranian missiles began striking targets across the United Arab Emirates last Saturday, State Department officials found themselves rushing to complete critical paperwork – securing authorization for at least three American embassies to remove non-essential staff.

Documents requesting State Department leadership approval for evacuations at U.S. diplomatic missions in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar – all already under attack from Tehran on Saturday – weren’t submitted for clearance and authorized until hours after America and Israel began military operations against Iran, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. In some instances, approvals didn’t come until the next day, according to two knowledgeable sources and six internal State Department communications reviewed by Reuters.

Public notifications that America was beginning to withdraw non-essential personnel from Gulf Arab nations started Monday, three days after hostilities commenced. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh received authorized departure approval on Tuesday, four full days into the conflict and the same day Iranian drones struck the facility, causing a fire that damaged embassy property.

This timeline represents an uncommon delay. Usually, America initiates evacuations for planned military actions well ahead of operations beginning.

During America’s 2003 Iraq invasion, regional staff and U.S. citizens had weeks to prepare, with at least two evacuations starting more than a week before combat operations launched. Prior to last week’s strikes, only Israel and Lebanon had received orders for non-essential personnel departures.

The Iranian operation – America’s largest Middle East military action since 2003 – has created enormous pressure on U.S. officials and other nations with citizens in the region. However, lawmakers, former diplomats and process sources indicated America was unusually delayed in implementing contingency measures for both personnel and thousands of stranded Americans.

State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said hundreds of people participated in efforts to help Americans return home.

“We are working 24/7 and have contingency plans ready to go and implement when needed, including the ability to immediately activate the task force, which was done here,” Pigott told Reuters in a statement.

SOCIAL MEDIA NOTIFICATIONS

Sources familiar with the situation said one factor behind the inconsistent approach was Trump administration officials limiting contingency planning to a small group before the war began.

In one instance, officials helping Americans return home learned from a senior Trump official’s social media post that Washington was now providing charter flights to U.S. citizens, according to two people aware of the situation.

“No directive came from anywhere,” one person said.

Pigott stated that announcements regarding the Department’s crisis-specific task force and charter flights were coordinated with appropriate officials.

In another case, the alert for Americans to leave the region didn’t come through standard State Department procedures but again through social media.

Top State Department consular affairs official Mora Namdar posted on X Monday, encouraging Americans across 14 Middle Eastern countries to depart and announcing the U.S. was working to arrange charter flights for citizens.

However, because this message was created outside normal procedures, State Department staff were caught off guard and had to revise the department’s official travel advisory system that American businesses and others depend on for overseas personnel guidance, according to two people familiar with the circumstances.

As of Saturday, the U.S. State Department reported completing “over a dozen charter flights and has safely evacuated thousands of Americans” from the Middle East. It didn’t specify exact departure locations for charter flights.

One flight leaving Dubai for Washington on Friday carried 182 embassy personnel and family members, plus 51 private U.S. citizens, representing only the second charter departure from that country, according to a March 6 communication reviewed by Reuters. Additional flights were scheduled afterward.

When asked to verify if specific plans were completed before the war to help evacuate American citizens from the 14 countries, a State Department official briefing reporters earlier this week provided a general response.

“I wouldn’t say that specifically. What I would say is, we always have contingency plans, and we’re always ready to assist Americans. That’s what I would say to that question,” the official said, speaking anonymously.

The Department said Friday it had helped 13,000 Americans who contacted them seeking departure assistance.

As the Department hurried to execute plans helping Americans, novelist and filmmaker Mohana Rajakumar in Doha called the hotline that senior U.S. officials said stranded citizens should use for help. The recorded message told her not to depend on government assistance for departure, even as the U.S. government repeatedly states that American citizen safety and security worldwide is its highest priority.

“I can tell you every WhatsApp group that I’m in with Americans, nobody feels that way,” Rajakumar told Reuters from Doha. “Everyone is asking why didn’t they tell us to leave given they knew they were going to do this? Why didn’t we have the option to leave?”

Officials said the recorded message was subsequently updated.

Internal divisions within Iran’s government are becoming increasingly visible as the nation faces what its leaders consider a fight for survival, with heated disagreements between hardline and moderate factions erupting over President Masoud Pezeshkian’s commitment to avoid attacking Gulf nations.

The fractures among Iran’s ruling class had been kept under wraps during Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s authoritarian reign, but his death last week has allowed these tensions to surface publicly as American and Israeli military strikes intensify pressure on Tehran.

The continuous military assault poses a deadly threat to the Islamic Republic and has led its most devoted supporters, the Revolutionary Guards, to take on a larger strategic role despite targeted killings that have eliminated numerous high-ranking officers.

Sources with connections to Iran’s leadership, speaking from within the nation, informed Reuters that tensions are becoming apparent among surviving top officials following multiple deaths from the U.S.-Israeli attacks. These sources requested anonymity given the delicate nature of the situation.

Demonstrating the mounting pressure on the government, religious leaders are fast-tracking the selection of a new supreme leader, with a decision potentially coming Sunday — although it remains uncertain whether Khamenei’s replacement will possess sufficient power to resolve internal conflicts.

Although his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, appears to be a leading candidate with support from the Guards and his father’s influential administration, he lacks experience, ranks below most of Iran’s top ayatollahs, and has created friction with moderate elements in the government.

Alternative candidates might find it difficult to maintain the unwavering loyalty of the Guards necessary to preserve order within the system.

“Wartime tends to clarify power structures, and in this case the decisive voice is not that of the civilian leadership but of the IRGC,” explained Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS CRITICIZE PRESIDENT’S POSITION

Pezeshkian’s public regret to Gulf nations regarding a week-long bombardment of their lands — along with his promise to limit such operations — immediately drew criticism from hardliners within the Revolutionary Guards and religious establishment, compelling him to partially reverse his position.

Demonstrating one of the most direct attacks on Pezeshkian — and evidence of internal conflict, hardline religious leader and legislator Hamid Rasai publicly addressed the president on social media, stating: “your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable.”

When the president later reiterated his previous statement on social media, he omitted the apology that had infuriated the Guards and other hardliners — representing a humiliating backtrack.

While all top officials within the government remain committed to protecting the Islamic Republic and its revolutionary religious system from American and Israeli attacks, obvious disagreements exist regarding their tactical methods.

Iran’s leadership has occasionally emphasized differences between hardliners and moderates as a negotiating tool with Western nations, but the conflict over Pezeshkian’s Saturday statement revealed authentic divisions, according to two high-level sources.

A hardliner with ties to Khamenei’s administration, which continues as a key power center, told Reuters that Pezeshkian’s remarks had frustrated many top Guard commanders.

Another high-ranking Iranian source, a moderate former government official, stated that no one could replace Khamenei, characterizing the deceased leader as a skilled strategist who had guided Iran through numerous challenging times.

As worry grows within Iran’s leadership circles, prominent ayatollahs have begun publicly calling for the religious council responsible for choosing a supreme leader to speed up its deliberations.

“It should expedite the process so that it leads to the disappointment of the enemy and the preservation of the unity and solidarity of the nation,” Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani declared in a statement published by the semi-official Fars News Agency.

TENSIONS VISIBLE EVEN IN HIGHEST GOVERNMENT BODY

Under Iran’s distinctive political structure, an elected president, administration and legislature answer to a religiously appointed ayatollah who holds ultimate power as supreme leader and directly supervises the Revolutionary Guards and other influential state institutions.

During his 36-year tenure, Khamenei frequently pitted hardline and moderate groups within the ruling apparatus against one another while maintaining final authority, permitting them to express disagreements as long as they accepted his decisions.

Following his death, authority officially transferred to a constitutionally required temporary council including Pezeshkian, the religious head of the court system and another cleric from a hardline organization known as the Guardian Council.

Without Khamenei’s presence, tensions are emerging even within that close-knit group, with the judiciary leader, prominent hardliner Ayatollah Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, stating that certain regional countries had permitted their land to be used for attacks.

“Heavy strikes on those targets will continue,” he declared, opposing Pezeshkian’s more diplomatic approach.

Nevertheless, although Khamenei did occasionally permit moderate or reformist positions to prevail in disagreements with hardliners, they were typically overruled when the system appeared to face danger.

Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez expressed her nation’s commitment to resolving disputes with the United States through diplomatic channels on Saturday, following the recent agreement between both countries to restore formal relations.

In a message posted on social media platform X and directed toward President Donald Trump, Rodriguez stated: “We reiterate our willingness to build long-term relations based on mutual respect, equality, and international law, with a view to promoting a work agenda that strengthens cooperation for the benefit of both countries.”

The diplomatic outreach follows Thursday’s announcement by the U.S. State Department confirming that both nations would officially restore their diplomatic connections.

Relations between the two countries were cut off in 2019 when the initial Trump administration declined to acknowledge Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela’s rightful president following a contested election. Instead, the U.S. backed an opposition politician as the legitimate leader.

The situation shifted dramatically in January when American forces apprehended Maduro after months of escalating tensions, leading to significant political changes in Venezuela and Rodriguez’s installation as interim president.

Since Rodriguez’s government took power and indicated its desire to rebuild connections with Washington, both nations have been working step by step to restore their bilateral relationship.

Brazil’s Senate voted Wednesday to unanimously approve a sweeping free-trade agreement linking South American countries with the European Union, moving the historic deal closer to reality after more than two decades of negotiations.

The upper chamber’s approval follows similar action by Brazil’s lower house of Congress, advancing an agreement that would unite markets representing over 700 million consumers worldwide.

Two other South American bloc members, Argentina and Uruguay, have already given their approval to the trade pact, while Paraguay is anticipated to follow suit. Bolivia, the most recent addition to the Mercosur trading group, wasn’t part of the original negotiations but may participate in future years.

As Mercosur’s dominant economic force, Brazil carries significant weight with its economy projected to exceed $2.3 trillion in 2025. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva championed the agreement, though it still awaits final approval from Europe’s highest court.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has consistently praised Lula’s leadership in advancing the deal despite European resistance. Officials estimate the combined economies involved total approximately $22 trillion in gross domestic product.

Brazilian diplomatic sources and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin indicate portions of the agreement could take effect within months, even as legal challenges continue in Europe – a timeline von der Leyen supports.

“Brazil’s Congress once more is showing its institutional maturity and a move like this shows that it is siding with our society,” Sen. Davi Alcolumbre, the president of Brazil’s Senate, said after the deal was ratified.

The cross-Atlantic agreement received official signatures on January 17, ending a quarter-century stalemate driven largely by European agricultural worries about competitive disadvantages.

However, European farmers have staged recent protests, using tractors to block roadways and setting off fireworks in Brussels to demonstrate their opposition to the trade arrangement.

French President Emmanuel Macron, among the deal’s critics, has called for protective measures to prevent major economic disruption within the EU, stronger environmental regulations in South American countries including pesticide controls, and enhanced inspection procedures for imports entering European ports.

Western Cuba plunged into darkness Wednesday as a widespread power failure left millions of residents from Havana to central provinces without electricity, marking another crisis for the island nation’s struggling energy infrastructure.

The outage originated when Cuba’s largest thermoelectric facility, the Antonio Guiteras power plant located east of the capital, experienced a critical failure. According to state media reports, a burst pipe in the plant’s boiler system caused water leakage and triggered a fire that emergency crews successfully contained without extensive damage.

Radio Rebelde, the government broadcasting service, cited energy officials who warned that restoring the massive power plant to full operation could require a minimum of 72 hours. The facility’s technical director, Román Pérez Castañeda, explained to the station that repair teams must first identify the exact location of the malfunction, develop a repair strategy, complete the fixes, and then restart and synchronize the entire unit.

The electrical failure impacted a vast area stretching from Pinar del Rio in the west to Camaguey in the central part of the island, according to statements from Cuba’s national electric utility posted on social media platform X.

Recovery efforts began slowly, with government officials announcing by late Thursday that power had been restored to approximately 2.5% of Havana, representing about 21,100 customers. Authorities emphasized that restoration work would proceed gradually based on what the damaged system could handle.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz expressed confidence in repair efforts, writing on X: “We trust in the experience and effort of the electrical workers to overcome this situation in the shortest possible time.”

Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy provided updates on restoration progress, noting that one affected power facility had resumed operations. “We are working to restore the National Electric System amid a complex energy situation,” he posted on social media.

The blackout created immediate hardships for residents trying to navigate daily life without power. Odalis Sánchez, a 63-year-old woman recovering from surgery, found herself stranded on the street with her grandson when the outage hit. Unable to walk due to her recent operation, she struggled to find transportation home.

“I need to be able to get home to see what I can do,” Sánchez explained. “Without power, you can’t do anything. My grandson also is studying and I have to make him food. Public transportation isn’t helping.”

The transportation crisis deepened as fuel shortages prevented buses from running, forcing approximately 200 people at a nearby bus stop to seek alternative rides, including hitchhiking.

This represents the second major power failure to hit Cuba’s western territories in just three months. In early December, a nearly 12-hour blackout affected the same region when a transmission line fault between two power plants caused system overloads and the collapse of the western energy sector.

Cuba’s energy challenges have intensified following recent U.S. actions targeting Venezuela in early January, which disrupted crucial oil shipments from the South American ally. The situation worsened when President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any nation providing oil supplies to Cuba.

Despite the difficulties, some residents maintained their determination to persevere. Ernesto Couto Martínez, 76, who was searching for transportation home, said he would face the latest crisis “with the spirit that all Cubans have.”

“We must keep fighting. There’s no other way,” he stated. “We have to move forward, blockade or no blockade.”

The island nation implemented strict fuel conservation measures last month and announced that jet fuel would be unavailable at nine airports across Cuba until mid-March. Even before the recent U.S. actions against Venezuela, Cuba was already battling an deteriorating electrical grid, power generation shortfalls, and irregular fuel deliveries.

BEIRUT – A mass evacuation of Iranian nationals from Lebanon took place over the weekend as tensions escalate in the region, according to Lebanese security officials.

Over 150 Iranian citizens, including embassy personnel and their relatives, departed Lebanon on Saturday aboard a Russian aircraft bound for Russia, a high-ranking Lebanese security official confirmed to news agencies. An additional 20 Iranians had already left the country on Friday as fighting intensified between Israel and the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah.

An official at Iran’s Beirut embassy acknowledged that several non-critical diplomatic staff members were departing but declined to specify exact numbers.

The exodus follows renewed hostilities that have drawn attention to Iran’s support for Hezbollah, which initiated attacks against Israel earlier this week using rockets and unmanned aircraft, prompting extensive Israeli military retaliation throughout Lebanon.

Israeli military officials issued a direct warning on Tuesday through social media, stating that Iranian government representatives remaining in Lebanon should “leave immediately before they are targeted.”

The situation intensified when Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam instructed authorities the next day to detain and remove any Iranian Revolutionary Guards conducting military operations within Lebanese borders – marking the first official acknowledgment of potential Iranian military presence in the country.

However, Lebanese officials have not confirmed whether Iranian forces are actually operating on their territory. Hezbollah representative Mahmoud Qmati rejected claims earlier this week that Iranian military personnel were present in Lebanon.

Israeli warplanes targeted locations close to Iran’s diplomatic mission in Lebanon on Friday, according to two security officials. Iranian embassy sources indicated these attacks prompted the decision for diplomatic staff to evacuate.

Sources familiar with government deliberations revealed that Lebanese authorities had also been preparing action against Iranian diplomatic personnel this week, with plans to remove diplomats from the country. It remains unclear whether those who departed did so voluntarily for safety reasons or were compelled to leave by Lebanese officials.

Canadian officials announced Wednesday that over 2,000 of their citizens have contacted the government seeking help to evacuate from Middle Eastern nations as tensions continue to rise between the United States, Israel and Iran.

According to a government representative, approximately half of these evacuation requests originated from Canadian nationals currently in the United Arab Emirates, while 200 came from those in Qatar and 160 from individuals in Lebanon.

Ottawa is actively working to arrange spots on commercial airline flights departing various cities throughout the region, the official explained. The government successfully secured 75 seats on flights leaving Wednesday, with additional arrangements anticipated in the upcoming days.

A 27-year-old Palestinian man was killed by an Israeli settler on Saturday in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The deadly shooting took place in the village area of Masafer Yatta, located near the Palestinian city of Hebron, both the Health Ministry and the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Israeli military officials have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the fatal incident.

The location where the shooting occurred, Masafer Yatta, has become one of several areas where Palestinians face growing displacement due to escalating settler violence that has increased dramatically in recent years, United Nations reports indicate.

This latest death follows another deadly incident earlier this week when two Palestinian brothers were fatally shot by an Israeli near Nablus in the northern West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that military police are conducting an investigation into a reserve soldier in connection with Monday’s fatal shooting.

SYDNEY – Australia has become the newest member of the G7 critical minerals alliance after signing multiple agreements with Canada on Wednesday, according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The move represents part of a broader Western effort to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains for essential minerals needed in semiconductor manufacturing and military applications. China currently dominates both the production and processing of these crucial materials.

“Earlier today, we signed a series of new agreements on critical minerals, including Australia joining the G7 minerals alliance – the largest grouping of trusted democratic mineral reserves in the world,” Carney announced during his address to Australia’s parliament on the final day of his three-day diplomatic visit.

The partnership brings together two major mineral producers, with Australia and Canada collectively responsible for approximately one-third of worldwide lithium and uranium output, plus more than 40% of global iron ore production.

Canadian Energy and Mining Minister Tim Hodgson indicated Tuesday that his government favors creating production partnerships and purchasing coalitions over establishing price controls to address supply chain concentration issues.

Australia has already committed funding toward establishing a strategic reserve of critical minerals, starting with antimony and gallium stockpiles.

Carney’s Australian visit is part of a broader Asia-Pacific tour that includes stops in Japan and India, designed to strengthen relationships between what he termed “middle powers.”

Beyond mineral cooperation, the two nations plan to expand collaboration in defense operations, maritime security, international trade, and artificial intelligence development, according to statements from Carney’s office prior to the visit.

Massive numbers of travelers find themselves trapped throughout the Middle East as regional warfare between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to intensify. Flight cancellations and closed airspace have created chaos for passengers desperately trying to find ways home.

The rapidly escalating situation has particularly impacted Gulf region airports, which serve as vital connection points for travelers heading to Europe, Africa and Asia. Despite ongoing rescue operations, air travel remains severely disrupted, affecting tourists, business people, migrant workers and many others caught in the crossfire.

Several affected passengers spoke with The Associated Press about their experiences during this crisis.

A Serbian woman named Viktoriia Lokhmatova and Belgian man Michael Crepin had brought their children to Dubai for a meaningful family occasion. Though the couple had been dating for over a year, this marked the first in-person meeting between her 8-year-old daughter Anny and his 13-year-old son Gabriel. The February trip was also meant to celebrate all four family members’ birthdays.

Their plans were derailed when their departure flight was cancelled due to regional airspace restrictions caused by the conflict. A replacement booking was also scrapped, forcing the family to scramble for alternatives while dealing with unexpected accommodation costs.

“We stayed on calls with the airline for almost two days trying to figure out another flight,” Lokhmatova explained.

During their search for solutions, Lokhmatova found a program where local vacation rental operators were providing temporary housing for stranded passengers. The family received a complimentary one-night stay in a unit managed by AraBnB Homes, a Dubai luxury rental company that opened empty properties to travelers unable to depart the city.

This temporary housing allowed them to regroup and plan their extended stay. During their first few days, they occasionally heard explosions from air defense systems stopping incoming missiles or drones. “We tried to stay calm because the kids were there,” Crepin explained.

Despite the circumstances, he said they felt secure and appreciated being together during the ordeal. They’re hoping to depart Dubai on Saturday if their newest flight proceeds as scheduled. From there, they plan to travel together to Istanbul before going separate ways – Lokhmatova and Anny back to Serbia, while Crepin and Gabriel return to Belgium.

Technology executive Varun Krishnan, who operates the Indian tech company Fone Arena, discovered two hours into his weekend flight from Doha, Qatar to Barcelona that his aircraft was no longer heading toward Spain. He was completing the final segment of his journey from India to attend the Mobile World Congress telecommunications conference in Barcelona.

“It seemed something was off,” Krishnan explained, mentioning he had been monitoring the flight path and noticed they weren’t following the expected route.

The captain announced during breakfast service that Baghdad’s airspace had closed due to security concerns. Rather than continuing through Iraq toward Europe, the plane began circling over the United Arab Emirates.

While the captain kept passengers informed about developments, Krishnan said “people were panicking.”

Emergency alerts activated throughout the cabin as the aircraft prepared to return to Doha. Upon landing, passengers faced lengthy lines while departure screens displayed widespread cancellations.

Krishnan has remained at a hotel since then, and as of Wednesday was still awaiting airline confirmation about when flights might restart.

Pittsburgh retiree Louise Herrle and her husband became trapped in Dubai during their vacation when the war erupted. She reported to the AP that multiple flights have been cancelled, and while they’re currently booked on an early Thursday morning departure, uncertainty remains about whether this flight will also be scrapped.

They’ve occasionally heard fighter aircraft overhead and some explosions, she noted. Despite the “extremely stressful” circumstances, she’s found comfort in connecting with other affected travelers.

“It’s not a great experience, but it’s, you know, a shared experience and it brings people together,” she observed.

Agnes Chen Pun, a Hong Kong resident who relocated to Dubai with her husband and their 1½-year-old child last year, has attempted to keep her family secure as tensions escalate in the United Arab Emirates. They’ve relocated twice – initially to a resort approximately 90 minutes away in Fujairah, then to another near the port city of Sharjah – due to concerns about possible attacks.

“We were so nervous, so anxious,” explained Chen, who works as a partner at Asia Bankers Club, an investment firm with offices in Hong Kong and Dubai.

She eventually obtained commercial flight tickets to Singapore for $2,200 each, though her departure remains uncertain. Despite the disruption, Chen indicated she intends to return to the UAE once conditions stabilize, considering the country an appealing place to live and work.

“I think the scare, the fears, will be short-term. Definitely now, safety is the most important,” she stated. “I will go to Hong Kong … wait (until) the war is over, and then I probably, definitely would come back again.”

SAO PAULO, March 7 – New polling data from Brazil indicates a potential runoff between current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro would be virtually deadlocked, based on a Datafolha survey published Saturday.

The survey reveals that in a hypothetical runoff election held now, Lula would capture 46% of voter support while Flavio, who is the oldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, would secure 43% – a margin within the statistical margin of error.

When polling tested a matchup between Lula and Sao Paulo state governor Tarcisio de Freitas, results showed similar closeness with 45% backing Lula and 42% supporting de Freitas, again representing a statistical dead heat.

The nation’s general election will take place on October 4. Should no presidential hopeful win an outright majority, the top two vote-getters will compete in a runoff election scheduled for October 25.

The survey data indicates that 80-year-old Lula, who would be seeking his fourth presidential term, maintains an advantage in all first-round polling scenarios. Meanwhile, 44-year-old Flavio’s political prospects have strengthened since his father, currently imprisoned, endorsed his candidacy in December.

Both Lula and Flavio registered the survey’s highest unfavorability numbers. The poll found that 46% of respondents stated they would refuse to vote for Lula regardless of circumstances, while 45% expressed the same sentiment about Flavio – representing another virtual tie.

The Datafolha organization conducted interviews with 2,004 registered voters between Tuesday and Thursday across 137 municipalities throughout the country. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points.

The leader of the United Arab Emirates broke his silence following Iranian missile attacks on his country, delivering a defiant message that his nation remains strong and will not be intimidated by adversaries.

President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who also serves as Abu Dhabi’s ruler, made his first public statements since the strikes while visiting injured victims on Friday. His remarks were broadcast Saturday on Abu Dhabi television.

“The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh — we are no easy prey,” Al Nahyan declared during his hospital visit.

The president emphasized his government’s commitment to safeguarding the nation during these challenging times. “We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents who are also part of our family,” he stated.

Al Nahyan assured that the UAE, a federation of seven emirates that includes Dubai, would provide protection for all people within its borders. His comments came after Iran launched missiles at the Gulf nation during ongoing tensions involving U.S.-Israeli military operations in the region.

The president characterized the current period as wartime but stressed that his country remains resilient despite the attacks.

A former school caretaker who became one of Britain’s most infamous child murderers has died following an assault by another prisoner at a high-security facility.

Ian Huntley, 52, passed away Saturday after spending days on life support following a brutal attack at Frankland prison in northeast England on February 26. According to reports, a fellow inmate repeatedly struck him in the head with a metal bar while they were in the prison workshop.

Huntley was serving a life sentence for killing Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both 10 years old, in a case that gripped the United Kingdom for two weeks in 2002. The two best friends disappeared from their village of Soham in eastern England on August 4, 2002, after they left a barbecue to purchase candy.

For nearly two weeks, authorities conducted an extensive search while hoping the girls might still be found alive. A photograph showing both children wearing identical red Manchester United soccer jerseys, captured moments before they vanished, dominated newspaper headlines and television coverage as investigators launched a massive manhunt.

The community response was overwhelming, with thousands of people traveling to Soham and leaving hundreds of flower arrangements outside the village church in a massive display of support and concern.

The desperate search came to a tragic end when hikers found the children’s bodies along a dirt trail in a forested area several miles from their hometown.

“The murders of remains one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation’s history, and our thoughts are with their families,” the U.K. Ministry of Justice said in a statement.

Although Huntley maintained his innocence regarding the murders of the two 10-year-olds, a jury found him guilty following his trial at London’s Central Criminal Court in 2003. The court imposed a life sentence with a recommendation that he remain imprisoned for a minimum of 40 years.

During his incarceration, Huntley faced multiple assassination attempts and required special protective custody alongside other high-profile convicted killers. In a 2010 incident, another prisoner slashed his throat.

When the crimes occurred, Huntley was living with Maxine Carr, who worked as a teaching assistant at the elementary school attended by Holly and Jessica. Carr provided Huntley with a fabricated alibi and received a 21-month prison sentence for obstructing justice. She currently lives under an assumed identity.

Both Huntley and Carr frequently appeared before news media during the initial search efforts. Huntley claimed to reporters that he believed he was among the final people to encounter the girls while they were still alive, and Carr mentioned she planned to keep a greeting card that Holly had made for her.

According to British news outlets, Anthony Russell, a 43-year-old convicted murderer and rapist, carried out the fatal assault on Huntley.

Durham Constabulary is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident that resulted in Huntley’s death, and officials are preparing documentation for the Crown Prosecution Service to review potential criminal charges.

HAVANA — Cuban authorities announced Saturday they are working to bring the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric facility back online following a equipment failure that triggered widespread power outages across the island’s western territories.

Felix Estrada Rodríguez, a senior engineer with Cuba’s Electric Union, informed the state-run Canal Caribe network that the facility is expected to resume operations by Saturday evening after repair teams addressed a damaged boiler system.

The equipment malfunction on Wednesday resulted in power losses affecting millions of residents throughout western Cuba, according to officials.

Rodríguez explained that restoration efforts required careful attention to safety protocols due to challenging working conditions.

“It is a confined space with a high temperature,” he stated.

Cuba’s Electric Union reported Saturday that only 1,000 megawatts of electricity generation capacity remained available, representing less than half of what the nation currently requires. Officials did not specify how many residents continue to experience power interruptions.

This marks the second major electrical grid failure to impact western Cuba in the past three months, with authorities citing deteriorating infrastructure and fuel shortages as contributing factors.

The island nation relies heavily on Venezuelan oil imports but has recently adopted strict fuel conservation policies following U.S. actions against the South American country and the detention of its leadership, which disrupted essential petroleum deliveries.

Following the U.S. intervention in Venezuela in early January, President Donald Trump issued warnings about potential tariffs against nations that provide oil supplies to Cuba.

A business partner of a Brazilian bank owner at the center of a major financial scandal has died, according to his legal representatives.

Luiz Phillipi Mourao passed away Friday evening following what authorities described as a suicide attempt that left him brain dead, his attorneys confirmed in a Saturday statement. Mourao had been taken into custody Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into the collapse of Banco Master.

The failed financial institution, which controlled less than one percent of Brazil’s total banking assets, was shut down by regulators in November after officials cited severe cash flow problems, declining financial health, and significant regulatory breaches.

Authorities arrested Mourao alongside Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro on Wednesday. Prosecutors allege Vorcaro paid bribes to two central bank regulators and conspired with Mourao to threaten and harass individuals he believed were working against his business interests. According to court documents, Vorcaro referred to Mourao as “Sicario,” a term for assassins used by Mexican drug organizations.

Vorcaro’s legal team has rejected all charges against their client, stating they plan to prove “the regularity of his conduct.”

The probe into Banco Master’s downfall has revealed an extensive web of corruption and conflicts of interest that has undermined confidence in several of Brazil’s most influential institutions.

Police in Minas Gerais state announced Saturday that Mourao’s remains have been transferred to forensic experts for analysis and will be returned to his relatives once testing is finished.

STOCKHOLM – Swedish authorities have detained a cargo vessel in Baltic Sea waters after determining the ship was operating under fraudulent flag documentation, police announced Saturday.

The vessel, identified as the Caffa, was intercepted by Swedish police and coast guard forces on Friday amid suspicions of maritime law violations. Johan Andersson, deputy chief of the police National Operations Department, revealed during a Saturday press briefing that one crew member has been formally notified of suspected legal violations.

According to Andersson, the investigation has revealed significant concerns about the vessel’s seaworthiness and compliance with safety regulations.

“Our investigation so far strengthens our suspicions and our opinion that this ship has extensive sea safety deficiencies,” Andersson stated during the press conference.

The deputy police chief also disclosed potential connections to international sanctions, saying “We also have information that the vessel would be on the Ukraine sanctions list.”

The Caffa, which maritime tracking data shows as a 96-meter cargo vessel, was initially documented as flying under Guinea’s flag. However, Swedish authorities determined this documentation was fraudulent, effectively making the ship stateless at the time of seizure.

Andersson confirmed that the majority of the vessel’s 11-person crew are Russian nationals. The ship was intercepted in waters off Sweden’s southern coast during routine maritime monitoring operations.