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BEIRUT — Lebanese residents evacuated from southern regions and Beirut’s southern neighborhoods on Monday, finding safety in makeshift shelters at schools throughout the capital after renewed deadly violence between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant organization Hezbollah.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, no fewer than 31 individuals lost their lives while 149 others sustained injuries during nighttime attacks across Beirut’s suburbs and southern Lebanese territories.

Lebanon’s administration on Monday harshly criticized Hezbollah’s choice to join Iran’s conflict against Israel and the United States, declaring the organization’s military operations unlawful and insisting it surrender its arsenal.

Traffic congestion plagued roadways through the night and into Monday as residents escaped what represented Israel’s most devastating bombardment of Lebanon in over twelve months, occurring just hours after Hezbollah launched cross-border missiles for the first time in more than a year.

Inside a public school quickly transformed into emergency housing, displaced families brought mattresses, plastic containers, and bundles of personal items. Additional families waited on sidewalks with their possessions, while some men smoked cigarettes as they anticipated available space indoors.

Community volunteers moved among the crowds, recording names as families occupied classrooms and assembled in the school’s outdoor areas.

Hussein Abu Ali, who escaped from a southern Beirut neighborhood with his spouse and kids, recounted when the attacks occurred.

“My son began shaking and crying,” he said. “Where are you supposed to go? I stepped outside, then back in because I was afraid of shooting in the air. I gathered my children and went down to the street.”

Nadia Al-Salman, forced to leave the southern community of Majdal Zoun, stated they “left our homes not out of fear or terror of the United States, but to fulfill our religious and legal duty to protect ourselves.”

“They do not intimidate or frighten us, and they will not make us retreat even an inch from the path of resistance,” she added.

Throughout the most recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2024, over one million Lebanese citizens were forced from their homes at its peak. Many remain unable to return to southern residences, where border communities continue lying in devastation.

Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel one day following the militant Palestinian organization Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the Gaza conflict. Following months of limited confrontations, the situation intensified into comprehensive warfare in September 2024 before a U.S.-mediated ceasefire temporarily ended hostilities two months afterward.

Following that truce, Israel has maintained almost daily bombardments in Lebanon, claiming its goal involves preventing Hezbollah’s reconstruction efforts.

Monday’s violence also represented the first occasion in over twelve months that Hezbollah acknowledged responsibility for attacking Israel. The organization released a statement claiming the bombardments occurred as retaliation for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s assassination and for “repeated Israeli aggressions,” characterizing it as “a legitimate defensive response.”

However, Lebanon’s administration declared Hezbollah’s military operations unlawful and insisted the organization surrender its weapons. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced following an urgent Cabinet session Monday that exclusively the state should determine war and peace matters.

He stated that Hezbollah’s military actions were prohibited moving forward and urged security forces to prevent missile or drone launches from Lebanon while detaining those responsible for the attacks. This represented the most severe position Lebanon’s government has adopted regarding Hezbollah, which maintains a political wing with parliamentary representation alongside its armed militants.

Israeli military officials overnight warned approximately 50 communities throughout southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate. Military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin stated Israel maintains “all options on the table,” including possible ground operations in Lebanon and warned that “Hezbollah will pay a very heavy price.”

He reported Israel has mobilized more than 100,000 reserve forces since the conflict with Iran commenced Saturday.

A deadly assault on a South Sudanese village has claimed the lives of at least 169 people, marking another devastating chapter in the nation’s escalating conflict that threatens to spiral into full-scale civil war.

The Sunday attack in Abiemnom county left 90 civilians dead, according to James Monyluak, information minister for the Ruweng administrative region. Among the casualties were women, children, and numerous fighters.

Following the massacre, approximately 1,000 terrified residents fled to a United Nations peacekeeping base seeking safety, according to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

“Such violence places civilians at grave risk and must stop immediately,” stated Anita Kiki Gbeho, a UNMISS official. “I urge all involved to cease hostilities without delay and engage in constructive dialogue to address their grievances.”

“Our peacekeepers will continue to do everything within their capabilities to protect civilians seeking refuge at our base,” she added.

UN officials reported 23 wounded in the assault and expressed alarm over “reports indicating that dozens of civilians and some local officials have lost their lives.”

The massacre represents part of intensifying hostilities across South Sudan, where forces supporting President Salva Kiir are clashing with militants believed connected to opposition leader Riek Machar.

Intelligence suggests the armed fighters responsible for Sunday’s attack maintain connections to Machar’s faction, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition.

Machar served as Kiir’s deputy until his September dismissal following criminal charges. He remains under house arrest in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, while his trial continues.

The United States has called for negotiations between Kiir and Machar to resolve the crisis.

The current violence jeopardizes a delicate 2018 peace accord that ended five years of civil warfare. Under that arrangement, Machar assumed the role of first vice president in a unity government. However, a UN investigation determined that South Sudan’s leadership is “systematically dismantling” the peace framework.

Machar’s allies contend the subversion charges against him are politically driven. Violence surged dramatically following his removal from office.

The crisis intensified in December when opposition fighters captured government positions in Jonglei county, an opposition stronghold that has become a focal point of renewed combat displacing an estimated 280,000 people, according to UN figures.

Humanitarian organizations have cautioned that restricted access to opposition-controlled territories is putting civilian lives in danger.

Since January, government forces have launched a counterattack involving air strikes and ground operations, despite official pledges to honor the peace agreement.

KYIV, Ukraine — Diplomatic negotiations between Ukraine and Russia set for this week could be moved from the United Arab Emirates to alternative locations due to escalating Middle East violence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday.

The Ukrainian leader indicated that Switzerland or Turkey might serve as backup venues if the originally planned Abu Dhabi meeting cannot proceed safely amid regional warfare.

Zelenskyy also confirmed that Western nations have not signaled any immediate disruption to crucial air defense missile shipments to Ukraine despite their Middle East defense obligations.

The U.S.-facilitated diplomatic initiative aims to resolve the conflict that started when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, recent American and Israeli military actions against Iran, along with retaliatory missile strikes from Iran and its allied militias targeting Israel and Arab nations, threaten to shift global focus away from the nearly three-year European war.

“Because of the fighting, we cannot guarantee at this time that the meeting will happen in Abu Dhabi,” Zelenskyy stated during a WhatsApp conversation with journalists. He had announced the UAE capital as the chosen location just last week.

Past diplomatic sessions between the warring nations have taken place in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, and Geneva, though none have achieved significant progress on major disputes.

The Ukrainian president reported no immediate reduction in American and European air defense weapon supplies, particularly the crucial American-manufactured Patriot missile systems. Nevertheless, he warned that delivery quantities might decrease if Middle Eastern hostilities persist.

According to Zelenskyy, Russia’s winter campaign to destroy Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure was unsuccessful, despite causing substantial damage. He noted that Russian air strikes have now shifted focus to other critical systems, including water supply networks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Sunday that the UK plans to deploy Ukrainian specialists to assist Persian Gulf nations in intercepting Iranian drones. Ukraine has developed significant drone warfare capabilities throughout the conflict, as Russia conducts daily bombardments using Iranian-designed Shahed drones.

However, Zelenskyy said he has not been contacted directly by Britain or other nations regarding such assistance requests.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — After more than six decades of doubt, a painting once dismissed as a fake has been verified as an authentic work by renowned Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn, according to an announcement Monday from a prominent Netherlands museum.

The Rijksmuseum, which serves as the country’s premier art and history institution, revealed that “Vision of Zacharias in the Temple” is indeed a genuine piece created by Rembrandt when he was 27 years old in Amsterdam during 1633. The confirmation came after two years of intensive examination and advanced technological analysis.

The artwork had disappeared from public view for decades following its purchase by an unnamed private collector in 1961. This acquisition occurred just one year after art experts had concluded the piece was not created by the famous Golden Age painter. Beginning Wednesday, visitors will be able to view the painting alongside other renowned works at the Rijksmuseum, where it will remain as part of a long-term lending arrangement.

Museum Director Taco Dibbits explained that the institution frequently receives inquiries from individuals wondering whether their paintings might be undiscovered Rembrandt works. “We always hope to find a new Rembrandt, but this happens rarely,” Dibbits told The Associated Press. He described making such a discovery as being “just like (finding) a needle in a haystack.”

The anonymous owner initially approached the museum with a simple question about whether the painting was of Dutch origin. “He really didn’t know what he had. And then to discover that it’s a Rembrandt is something that’s amazing to experience,” Dibbits explained.

The composition illustrates a religious narrative featuring high priest Zacharias receiving a divine visit from the Archangel Gabriel, who announces that Zacharias and his spouse will become parents to John the Baptist. According to the museum, the painting captures Zacharias’s astonished reaction through dramatic lighting that signals Gabriel’s celestial presence.

Jonathan Bikker, the museum’s specialist in 17th-century Dutch art, detailed the comprehensive research process that led to the authentication. The investigation included advanced macro X-ray fluorescence scanning technology and detailed comparisons with other confirmed Rembrandt pieces.

“So the wood that was used for the panel on which it’s painted, that is definitely from a tree that was cut down before 1633, the date on the painting,” Bikker explained.

“All the pigments, the paint in the painting were used by Rembrandt in other paintings. And the layers of paint and how he painted it, that is also precisely the same as in other works by Rembrandt,” he continued.

This authentication increases the catalog of known Rembrandt paintings to approximately 350 works and raises optimism about potential future discoveries.

“We’re not actively looking for new paintings by Rembrandt, but I think this gives us hope — not just us, but everyone who’s interested in Rembrandt,” Bikker stated.

WASHINGTON — Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and the nation’s top military officer, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to address reporters Monday regarding ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran.

This will represent the administration’s first formal media briefing since Saturday concerning the strikes and developing Iranian situation. Although President Donald Trump has participated in several telephone interviews with individual news outlets, he has avoided on-camera questioning and has only issued two video statements since military operations commenced.

The scheduled briefing occurs amid an expanding regional conflict. Iranian forces and their proxy organizations have fired missiles targeting Israeli territory, Arab nations, and American military installations throughout the Middle East.

American military personnel have suffered four combat deaths. Trump indicated Sunday that additional U.S. casualties should be expected.

The escalating crisis was highlighted when Kuwait, a U.S. partner nation, accidentally destroyed three American warplanes during a combat operation while Iranian aircraft, missiles, and unmanned drones were conducting attacks. According to U.S. Central Command, all six crew members successfully ejected from their F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft and remain in stable medical condition.

American leadership has not presented any withdrawal strategy or indicated when the conflict might conclude, while the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has created uncertainty about the Islamic Republic’s future and pushed the region toward greater instability.

During a Sunday discussion with The New York Times, Trump indicated the military campaign might continue for “four to five weeks.”

The Republican commander-in-chief reported that American and Israeli forces have already hit hundreds of objectives. These operations included joint strikes on Iranian missile facilities and naval targets, with claims of destroying Iran’s naval command center and several warships.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society reports that U.S.-Israeli operations have resulted in at least 555 Iranian deaths. Regional authorities indicate 11 Israeli fatalities and 31 deaths in Lebanon.

TOKYO (AP) — Global tensions reached new heights Monday as international leaders grappled with the aftermath of coordinated US and Israeli military operations against Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

President Donald Trump, confirming Khamenei’s death in the strikes, described the military action as “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”

The international response revealed deep divisions, with many nations carefully avoiding direct commentary on the weekend strikes while focusing criticism on Iran’s retaliatory attacks. Several governments condemned Tehran’s missile strikes against Arab nations while remaining silent about the American and Israeli military operations.

Clear divisions emerged among key allies: Australia and Canada voiced explicit backing for the US actions, while Russia, China and Spain issued sharp rebukes of the strikes.

Following Saturday’s major assault by US and Israeli forces, Trump urged Iranian citizens to “seize control of your destiny” and overthrow the Islamic government that has controlled Iran for over four decades. Tehran responded by launching missiles and unmanned aircraft at Israeli targets and American military installations throughout the Middle East.

European leaders Keir Starmer of Britain, Emmanuel Macron of France, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint declaration urging Washington and Tehran to restart diplomatic discussions, emphasizing their preference for a peaceful resolution.

These three nations have spearheaded international efforts to negotiate agreements regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry appealed for peaceful dialogue, requesting “all the parties to prevent the conflict from further deterioration, thereby undermining international peace and security and affecting innocent civilians.”

Oman issued a declaration stating the American military action “constitutes a violation of the rules of international law and the principle of settling disputes through peaceful means, rather than through hostility and the shedding of blood.” However, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who previously facilitated nuclear discussions between Washington and Tehran, maintained after two days of fighting that “the door to diplomacy remains open.”

The Arab League, representing 22 member nations, characterized Iran’s attacks as “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate for peace and strive for stability.” This coalition has traditionally criticized both Israeli and Iranian actions that threaten regional stability.

Senior diplomats from six Persian Gulf nations demanded Iran immediately cease attacks on their soil, arguing these actions violated national sovereignty and jeopardized regional peace.

Foreign ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain conducted an emergency virtual conference Sunday after the US-Israeli strikes triggered Iranian missile barrages against American bases and civilian targets including airports, hotels and residential neighborhoods.

Syria, previously Iran’s strongest regional partner under former President Bashar Assad, issued a statement exclusively condemning Iranian actions, demonstrating the new government’s efforts to strengthen relationships with regional economic powers and the United States.

Saudi Arabia declared it “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the treacherous Iranian aggression and the blatant violation of sovereignty.”

Several European and Middle Eastern nations chose diplomatic language, avoiding appearances of either endorsing unilateral American military action or directly criticizing the United States.

Other countries responded more forcefully.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry labeled the strikes “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state.” Moscow accused America and Israel of using nuclear concerns as cover while actually seeking government overthrow.

Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov expressed Monday that Russia felt deeply disappointed seeing the US and Israel attack Iran despite recent diplomatic progress.

China’s leadership said it remained “highly concerned” about the American and Israeli strikes, demanding immediate cessation of military activities and renewed negotiations.

Spain’s prime minister criticized the US-Israeli operations, advocating for immediate tension reduction and peaceful talks.

Canada, despite recent diplomatic friction with America, supported the military intervention. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East,” stated Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Australia’s Senate approved a resolution celebrating Khamenei’s death while rejecting provisions praising the United States and Israel.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi downplayed Monday concerns about economic impacts on Middle Eastern oil supplies following the strikes, noting Japan maintains domestic reserves lasting several months.

The Palestinian Authority condemned Iranian attacks on Arab states that have historically provided financial support, while making no reference to Israeli or American strikes.

Anxiety spread across multiple nations. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expressed to broadcaster NRK his worry that failed US-Iran negotiations could trigger “a new, extensive war in the Middle East.”

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons criticized the US and Israeli military operations.

European Union leadership released a Saturday statement advocating restraint and diplomacy to guarantee “nuclear safety.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday that India remained troubled by the crisis and supported dialogue to reduce tensions.

Germany announced it would not participate in military operations against Iran but would consider protecting German troops at international bases in Jordan and Iraq if attacked, according to Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.

British comedy legend John Cleese has announced he will avoid performing in British Columbia during his planned Canadian tour this year. The Monty Python co-creator made the decision following a substantial court ruling in the province.

A school official in British Columbia was recently ordered to pay $750,000 in damages after making public statements opposing transgender ideology. This legal outcome has prompted Cleese, known for his advocacy of free expression and his atheist beliefs, to reconsider performing in the region.

“What a pity. Now I won’t be able to risk doing any shows in British Columbia,” the veteran entertainer stated.

The decision means fans in that Canadian province will miss out on seeing the celebrated performer during his theatrical tour of the country.

International travelers found themselves trapped Monday after military operations between the United States, Israel and Iran forced the closure of major aviation routes throughout the Middle East.

Vacationers and business people were left waiting in hotels, terminals and aboard cruise vessels with little information about when normal air travel might return. Officials advised citizens abroad to stay put while evacuation plans were developed.

Key transportation centers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha – including the world’s busiest Dubai International Airport – suspended operations after being directly impacted by the conflict. These facilities serve as crucial connection points linking Europe, Africa and Western nations with Asian destinations.

Qatar Airways announced Monday that all services remain halted, with the next status update scheduled for Tuesday morning. Jordan also implemented partial airspace restrictions.

Germany faces a particularly challenging situation with approximately 30,000 of its citizens currently unable to return home from the region.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated late Sunday that military rescue operations were impossible due to the airspace closures.

He explained that officials were exploring alternative methods to assist stranded Germans and urged people to heed guidance from travel companies and local officials.

The German Travel Association issued an urgent advisory telling tourists to “remain at their booked hotels as a matter of urgency” and avoid “make their own way to the airport or to a neighboring country.”

Similar guidance came from other nations dealing with stranded citizens.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced plans to deploy two aircraft to Egypt and Jordan for citizen evacuation. One plane will collect 79 Czech nationals in Sharm El Sheikh who are traveling by bus from Israel to Egypt. The second aircraft will retrieve citizens from Amman, Jordan. Babiš reported approximately 6,700 Czech citizens are currently in the affected region.

An additional four Czech evacuation flights are departing for Muscat and Salalah in Oman to transport tourists home.

The disruption extended to Asia, where thousands became stranded on Indonesia’s popular Bali island following widespread flight cancellations.

Officials at Bali’s international airport reported at least 15 cancelled flights by Monday afternoon, including eight departures and seven arrivals on routes serving Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

Major carriers including Air France suspended service to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh, while airlines from Air India to KLM issued travel warnings and halted operations.

Airport representative Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi confirmed that 3,197 departing passengers were impacted by the service interruptions.

American airlines issued travel alerts as the transportation chaos affected financial markets Monday morning, with travel sector stocks declining sharply. United, Delta and American Airlines each dropped 5% to 6%, while international hotel companies and cruise operators like Carnival experienced even steeper losses.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced on March 2nd that his government will prohibit Hezbollah’s armed operations throughout the country. The announcement comes after Israel conducted strikes against facilities connected to Hezbollah in response to the militant group’s recent missile and drone attacks.

The escalation follows unconfirmed reports regarding the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which appears to have triggered the series of retaliatory actions between the groups. Israel targeted what it described as Hezbollah-affiliated locations after the organization launched its attacks using missiles and unmanned aircraft.

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron will address European security concerns Monday when he delivers a closely anticipated speech updating his nation’s nuclear weapons strategy from a military submarine base.

The French leader plans to detail how his country’s nuclear arsenal factors into European defense planning as continental leaders express mounting anxiety about President Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, Greenland and NATO commitments.

Despite escalating Middle East tensions involving Iran, French officials decided to proceed with the previously scheduled address. A presidential aide, speaking on condition of anonymity per standard protocol, explained that current global violence demonstrates why France must maintain its strategic independence against emerging threats.

Across Europe, government leaders are questioning whether the United States will honor its traditional “nuclear umbrella” commitment — the longstanding promise that American nuclear capabilities would shield NATO allies from attack.

As the European Union’s sole nuclear-armed nation, France holds unique significance in continental defense discussions. Macron’s administration indicated the speech will expand upon his 2020 nuclear deterrence remarks, made before Russia’s comprehensive Ukraine invasion transformed European security calculations.

Presidential officials have not revealed specific details about Monday’s announcement.

Several European countries have already accepted Macron’s previous invitation to participate in discussions about French nuclear deterrence and potentially join nuclear training exercises.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz disclosed earlier this month that he had conducted “preliminary discussions” with Macron regarding nuclear cooperation and publicly suggested German military aircraft might transport French nuclear weapons.

“We have to re-articulate nuclear deterrence,” Macron stated at this month’s Munich Security Council gathering. He described having “strategic conversations” with Merz and other European leaders “in order to see how we can articulate our national doctrine, which is guaranteed and controlled by the Constitution, with special cooperation, common exercises and common security interests.”

France and Britain established a joint agreement in July enabling their independent nuclear forces to operate in “coordinated” fashion. The United Kingdom, though no longer an EU member while remaining a NATO partner, represents Europe’s only other nuclear-capable nation.

Macron has repeatedly emphasized that authority over French nuclear weapons deployment remains exclusively with France’s president.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian officials have granted Australian mining company Lynas Rare Earths a decade-long extension to operate its processing facility, while mandating the elimination of radioactive waste production by 2031.

The Lynas processing plant in Malaysia represents the first rare earth refinery established outside of China, producing essential materials for advanced technology manufacturing. Located in Pahang state’s central region, the facility has been operational since 2012 but has faced ongoing controversy regarding radiation concerns from accumulated waste materials.

Science Minister Chang Lih Kang announced Monday that radioactive waste produced over the next five years must undergo treatment and neutralization through thorium extraction or alternative approaches. He emphasized that no additional permanent storage facilities would be permitted.

The renewed operating permit extends through March 3, 2036, with a mandatory review scheduled after five years. Chang noted the license faces potential revocation if Lynas fails to meet established conditions.

Activist organizations have maintained sustained opposition to the Lynas facility, pushing for the company to remove its radioactive materials from the country. These groups argue that radioactive components, including thorium and uranium, become more dangerous following mechanical and chemical processing.

Lynas received a five-year window to upgrade its infrastructure and expand operations under what Chang characterized as an aggressive but definitive schedule. He reported that laboratory testing has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in waste radiation neutralization through thorium extraction, though implementing such technology on an industrial scale typically requires seven to 10 years.

“We have not gone against our promise to prevent the accumulation of radioactive waste in Malaysia. We remain committed to that position, and through this license renewal, we aim to fully achieve this goal by 2031,” Chang said in a statement.

Chang explained the license approval followed comprehensive technical assessment, considering Malaysia’s strategic priorities and commitments from Lynas. Current radioactive waste will be housed in a permanent storage facility currently under development, expected to be completed by year’s end.

Rare earth elements comprise 17 minerals essential for manufacturing electric and hybrid vehicles, defense systems, flat-screen televisions, mobile devices, mercury-vapor lighting and camera lenses. While China holds approximately one-third of global rare earth deposits, it maintains nearly complete control over supply chains. Lynas has indicated its refinery could supply almost one-third of worldwide rare earth demand, excluding China.

Malaysia’s only other rare earth processing facility — run by Japan’s Mitsubishi Group in northern Perak state — shuttered in 1992 after public demonstrations and allegations linking it to birth defects and leukemia among local residents. The site remains one of Asia’s most extensive radioactive contamination cleanup locations.

Thousands of Lebanese residents are abandoning their communities as deadly violence escalates along the Israeli-Lebanese border following Monday’s missile exchanges between the two nations.

The violence began when Hezbollah fired rockets from Lebanese territory into Israel, responding to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israeli forces answered with military strikes against Lebanese targets, resulting in at least 31 fatalities according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

Images captured by Associated Press photographers document the mass displacement as families pack belongings and flee areas near the conflict zone.

VIENNA (AP) — Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency made accusations Monday that American and Israeli military strikes hit the country’s Natanz uranium enrichment complex.

However, this claim conflicts with statements from UN nuclear oversight director Rafael Grossi, who indicated the agency has found “no indication” that atomic facilities in Iran have been struck “up to now.”

“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday. Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie,” Iranian Ambassador Reza Najafi stated to media at IAEA offices in Vienna during a special Board of Governors meeting requested by Russia.

When a journalist asked which atomic facility he meant, Najafi responded “Natanz.”

Located approximately 220 kilometers (135 miles) south of Tehran, the Natanz complex combines surface and underground laboratories that handled most of Iran’s uranium processing operations.

Prior to current hostilities, IAEA reports showed Iran operated sophisticated centrifuges at the site to process uranium to 60% purity — just one technical step away from the 90% weapons-grade threshold. Officials believe some of this material remained at the facility when the entire compound was struck last June.

The primary surface enrichment structure at Natanz was called the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. Israeli forces struck this building on June 13, rendering it “functionally destroyed” and causing significant damage to subterranean chambers containing centrifuge arrays, according to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi’s assessment at that time. A subsequent U.S. operation on June 22 targeted Natanz’s underground sections with penetrating explosives, potentially destroying remaining equipment.

Speaking to the special Board of Governors session, IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi stated the International Atomic Energy Agency currently has “no indication that any of the nuclear installations, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Tehran Research Reactor or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities” in Iran have sustained damage or been targeted.

Grossi noted the IAEA continues attempting to reach Iranian nuclear regulatory officials through the agency’s Incident and Emergency Center “with no response so far,” citing communication difficulties due to the ongoing conflict.

The IAEA chief called for military restraint, cautioning that Iran and numerous other regional nations facing military action operate “operational nuclear power plants and nuclear research reactors, as well as associated fuel storage sites, increasing the threat to nuclear safety.”

He reported that thus far “no elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran.”

Najafi further accused the United States of using “deception and disinformation to invade other countries.” He claimed the conflict was initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, “who attempts to portray himself as a man of peace and asking for Nobel Peace Prize. Even when they talk about peace, it is a lie. And if they call for diplomacy, it’s about deception,” he stated.

The Iranian ambassador characterized the strikes on his nation as “unlawful, criminal and brutal” and urged the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors to “categorically condemn” the military actions.

A joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel during the weekend has resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous other high-ranking officials, sparking intense Iranian retaliation that raises fears of expanded regional conflict.

U.S. allies have committed to assisting in defending against Iran’s missile and drone attacks. For the first time in over a year, the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah has launched strikes against Israel, prompting Israeli counterattacks.

The conflict has resulted in the first reported American military casualties. Additional fatalities have been confirmed in Israel and Gulf region countries, while Iranian officials report hundreds of deaths within their borders.

Following Khamenei’s death, Iran faces the task of selecting a new supreme leader for the first time since 1989. President Donald Trump has called on Iranian citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to topple the theocratic government that suppressed nationwide demonstrations earlier this year. However, there are no indications of such an uprising occurring.

Global reactions have been mixed, with some demonstrations taking place while others have celebrated the developments.

These military actions occurred just two days following the most recent diplomatic discussions between the U.S. and Iran regarding restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear activities. The situation mirrors events from the previous year, when negotiations were interrupted by an Israeli assault that resulted in a 12-day conflict and American bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities. Washington has maintained that Iran has been reconstructing its nuclear capabilities in recent months.

Iranian officials claim they have not conducted uranium enrichment since June, though they have prevented International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from accessing the sites targeted by American forces.

The 86-year-old Khamenei died during Saturday morning’s bombing of his residential compound. Iranian ballistic missile installations, naval headquarters, and warships were also struck. Iran reports that attacks also hit the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

With no designated heir, Iran has established a three-person leadership council. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated that a new supreme leader will be selected within “one or two days.” Limited street celebrations following Khamenei’s death have been reported, though internet restrictions within Iran have made monitoring the situation difficult.

Iranian forces have responded with strikes against Israel, resulting in multiple casualties. Iran has also launched attacks on American military installations throughout the region. Military officials confirmed three service members were killed, marking the first known American losses. Additional Iranian attacks have caused several deaths in Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, while hundreds of flights have been disrupted at major international airports.

The strikes followed a significant U.S. military buildup in the region, representing the largest American presence there in decades. Israeli and American intelligence agencies spent weeks monitoring the locations of senior Iranian leadership. Trump has stated that the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” operations in Iran will continue throughout the week or potentially longer.

American military installations across the region remain vulnerable to potential Iranian attacks.

Washington has indicated willingness to engage in future discussions with Iran’s incoming leadership. Meanwhile, certain congressional leaders have objected to launching the strikes without legislative approval.

Israel views Iran as a fundamental threat and has consistently worked to eliminate its nuclear and missile programs, while also targeting allied armed groups such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli operations have significantly weakened these organizations following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that initiated the Gaza conflict.

Early Monday, Israel conducted strikes in Lebanon in response to missiles fired by Hezbollah across the border.

Israel has now committed to “nonstop” attacks and reported that 100 fighter aircraft simultaneously struck targets in Tehran at one point. During last year’s conflict, Israel presented Trump with a proposal to eliminate Khamenei, which has now been accomplished.

Israeli citizens sought shelter throughout the weekend, though most Iranian attacks have been successfully intercepted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing international criticism over the Gaza war, is declaring the outcome a victory for Israeli security.

However, threats persist from Iranian-supported groups like Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have promised to restart attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes and Israeli targets.

The current crisis has already exceeded the intensity of last year’s Israel-Iran conflict, where the United States became involved near the conclusion by bombing Iranian nuclear sites, leading to Iran’s calculated response against a U.S. military base in Qatar.

Currently, hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks have caused widespread alarm across Gulf nations that had previously remained relatively protected from regional instability.

The United Arab Emirates reported disruptions at Dubai’s primary airport, while tourists and residents reacted to the sounds of interceptor missiles. Saudi Arabia confirmed it intercepted attacks and summoned Iran’s diplomatic representative. Senior diplomats from six Gulf states declared their “right to self-defense.”

Oil markets experienced sharp price increases when trading resumed Sunday, as investors anticipated potential supply disruptions from this crucial region. Concerns about attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital oil transit point, are also affecting supply considerations.

In response, eight nations within the OPEC+ oil alliance announced plans to increase crude oil production.

Monday may bring initial information about potential impacts on Iran’s nuclear program as the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors convenes a meeting regarding the conflict.

PARIS – French officials declared Monday their willingness to provide military assistance to Gulf nations facing retaliatory attacks from Iran, while criticizing recent strikes against Iranian targets as lacking proper international authorization.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced the pledge during a press conference following an emergency meeting at France’s Foreign Ministry in Paris.

“Regarding more specifically our partners in the region who have been targeted, deliberately aimed at by the Iranian regime, we stand ready to contribute to their defense,” Barrot stated to journalists.

The foreign minister clarified that any French assistance would come “based on their request, in a proportionate manner and in accordance with the principle of collective self-defence provided for under international law.”

Barrot also criticized Saturday’s military actions by Israel and the United States against Iran, arguing these “unilateral strikes” should have received authorization from the U.N. Security Council to gain proper legitimacy.

The French official urged Iran to cease its current offensive operations and make significant compromises to reach a diplomatic resolution that could bring stability to the Middle East.

According to Barrot, no French personnel were injured in Sunday’s drone strike on a French naval facility in Abu Dhabi, though the attack resulted in minor property damage.

Energy facilities across the Middle East came under attack Monday, forcing the temporary closure of Saudi Arabia’s largest domestic oil refinery following a drone strike, according to industry sources.

The escalating violence has now entered its third day, prompting energy companies to halt operations at facilities throughout the region as a safety precaution. Oil production in Iraqi Kurdistan has been largely suspended, while several major Israeli natural gas fields have also ceased operations, disrupting energy exports to Egypt.

Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, which processes 550,000 barrels daily, was temporarily shuttered after the attack. The facility sits within a crucial energy hub along Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coastline that also functions as a key export terminal for the kingdom’s crude oil.

In northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region, energy companies including DNO, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Dana Gas and HKN Energy have halted production at their oil fields as a safety measure. The region had been exporting approximately 200,000 barrels per day through a pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port in February. Officials report no damage to the facilities.

Off Israel’s coast, Chevron’s massive Leviathan natural gas field suspended operations Saturday, while Energean also shut down its production vessel that services smaller gas fields in the area.

Saudi defense officials confirmed that two drones were intercepted at the Ras Tanura facility, with falling debris sparking a small fire. The Saudi defense ministry spokesperson told Al Arabiya TV that no personnel were injured in the incident.

“The situation at Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery is under control,” a source familiar with the matter reported. Saudi Arabia’s state news agency said some refinery units were shut down as a precaution, but emphasized that fuel supplies to domestic markets remained unaffected.

The facility closures are heightening concerns about global energy supplies, particularly as shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly stopped following attacks on vessels Sunday. About 20 percent of the world’s oil consumption passes through this critical waterway. Brent crude oil prices jumped approximately 10 percent Monday, climbing above $82 per barrel.

Energy analysts view the Saudi refinery attack as a major escalation in regional tensions. “The attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran’s sights,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

Soltvedt added, “The attack is also likely to move Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states closer to joining U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.”

This isn’t the first time Saudi Arabia’s heavily protected energy infrastructure has come under attack. In September 2019, drone and missile strikes on the Abqaiq and Khurais facilities temporarily eliminated more than half of the kingdom’s oil production. The Ras Tanura facility was previously targeted by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces in 2021.

Qatar successfully stopped Iranian strikes aimed at civilian targets, including the nation’s international airport, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson who spoke with CNN on Monday.

The spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, warned that these types of aggressive actions “could not remain unanswered” and confirmed that Qatar is currently not maintaining diplomatic engagement with Iran.

The March 2nd statement highlights escalating tensions between the two Middle Eastern nations as Qatar takes a firm stance against what it describes as unprovoked attacks on non-military infrastructure.

Military forces have taken control of two northern Pakistani cities under emergency curfew orders following deadly weekend violence that claimed at least 23 lives, government officials announced Monday.

The lockdown affects Gilgit and Skardu, where thousands of Shiite protesters stormed United Nations facilities on Sunday in response to U.S.-Israeli military operations that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The demonstrations turned destructive as crowds targeted the UN Military Observer Group offices that oversee Kashmir ceasefire monitoring and attacked UN Development Programme facilities in Skardu. Violence also erupted in Gilgit, where demonstrators set fire to a police station and caused damage to a school and local charity buildings. Regional police report 12 fatalities and 80 wounded in the Gilgit-Baltistan area alone.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed Monday that protesters vandalized the UNMOGIP Field Station during the violent confrontations. “The safety and security of U.N. personnel and premises throughout the region remain our top priority, and we continue to closely monitor the situation,” Dujarric stated.

Regional government representative Shabir Mir announced Monday that authorities have restored order, with the emergency curfew scheduled to continue through Wednesday. Police commander Akbar Nasir Khan instructed citizens to remain in their homes due to “deteriorating law and order conditions.”

Violence also erupted in Pakistan’s major southern port of Karachi, where angry crowds breached the U.S. Consulate grounds Sunday, shattering windows and attempting to ignite the structure. Law enforcement responded with riot control measures including batons, tear gas, and live ammunition, resulting in 10 deaths and over 50 injuries. Additional violence in the capital city of Islamabad claimed one life as Shiite protesters attempted to march toward the American Embassy.

American diplomatic facilities suspended normal operations Monday, with the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Karachi and Lahore canceling scheduled visa services and citizen assistance due to security threats. Pakistani security forces have increased protection around all U.S. diplomatic properties nationwide, including enhanced security perimeters around the Peshawar consulate facility.

Financial markets reflected the regional instability Monday as the Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced significant losses, with the primary KSE-100 Index dropping nearly 10 percent. Market analysts attributed the widespread selling across all sectors to increased uncertainty following the Iranian attacks and resulting geopolitical tensions.

The violent demonstrations reflect growing fury throughout Pakistan, especially within Shiite communities, following the U.S.-Israeli military operations that eliminated Khamenei and other high-ranking Iranian officials. Although Shiites represent a minority population nationally, they constitute majorities in certain northern districts and throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the Afghan border.

These domestic disturbances occurred as Pakistan continues cross-border military confrontations with Afghanistan that began Thursday following Afghan retaliatory strikes responding to Pakistani air operations conducted the previous Sunday. Pakistani forces have maintained ongoing border operations since the conflict began.

MOSCOW – Russian officials announced Monday they are maintaining ongoing communications with Iran’s government following what Moscow describes as unprovoked attacks on the country, expressing significant disappointment over recent developments.

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a calculated assassination. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has pointed fingers at the United States and Israel, claiming their actions are pushing the Middle East toward uncontrolled chaos.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed Monday that Russian officials are examining the circumstances and forming their own assessment after Washington decided to conduct military operations against Iran, despite what appeared to be productive diplomatic discussions.

“Regarding the talks facilitated by Oman between America and Iran, we must voice our profound disappointment that despite reports of meaningful advancement in those discussions, circumstances have still descended into direct hostilities,” Peskov stated during a press briefing.

The spokesperson mentioned that Putin plans to conduct an international phone conversation about Iran later Monday, though he wouldn’t reveal the intended recipient.

“What I can share is that we maintain ongoing communication with Iran’s government and are examining developments affecting that nation. Meanwhile, we’re continuing discussions with leaders of countries impacted by this conflict, including nations in the Persian Gulf region,” Peskov explained.

NAIROBI – An assault by unknown gunmen in South Sudan’s Ruweng Administrative Area on Sunday resulted in the deaths of 122 individuals, with 82 of those being civilians, according to the region’s information minister who spoke Monday.

James Monyliak Majok confirmed the devastating toll to Reuters, stating: “I would like to sadly inform you that among those killed included the County Commissioner and the Executive Director. Eighty two were mostly children, women, and elderly.”

The identity of the attackers and their motives remain unclear as authorities continue investigating the incident that claimed the lives of numerous vulnerable residents along with key local government officials.

Iranian representatives accused the United States and Israel of launching military strikes against the country’s major nuclear facility at Natanz, according to statements made during a United Nations nuclear oversight meeting in Vienna on Monday.

Speaking to journalists at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board meeting, Iran’s U.N. nuclear watchdog ambassador Reza Najafi claimed the attacks targeted peaceful nuclear operations under international supervision.

“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday,” Najafi stated to reporters gathered at the 35-nation governing board session. When pressed by Reuters about which specific installations were targeted, Najafi confirmed the strikes hit the Natanz complex.

The extensive nuclear installation at Natanz has been a focal point of international attention regarding Iran’s nuclear program activities.

Iranian Americans residing in the Los Angeles area are expressing their viewpoints regarding recent military operations conducted by the United States and Israel targeting Iran.

The Iranian diaspora community in Los Angeles has been sharing their reactions as tensions escalate in the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Canadian and Indian leaders announced Monday their commitment to enhancing economic cooperation, marking a significant effort to repair diplomatic relations that have been troubled for the past two years.

Following discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that both nations would work toward completing a “comprehensive economic partnership” designed to boost bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.

The two countries resumed progress on trade agreement negotiations that had been stalled, as Carney has worked to rebuild diplomatic communication and stabilize the relationship between the nations.

According to Carney, both governments are targeting completion of the agreement before year’s end.

“This is not merely the renewal of a relationship. It is the expansion of a valued partnership with new ambition, focus, and foresight,” Carney said.

The relationship between the countries became strained when Canadian officials claimed India played a role in the death of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver in June 2023. India strongly rejected these claims and criticized former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration for providing refuge to Sikh extremists associated with the Khalistan movement. India has prohibited this movement, which seeks to establish an independent Sikh state.

The diplomatic crisis resulted in both nations removing senior diplomatic personnel and temporarily halting certain visa operations.

The relationship began improving last June when Carney extended an invitation to Modi to attend the G7 summit in Alberta.

Following Monday’s discussions, Modi revealed that India and Canada had signed a nuclear cooperation agreement allowing Canada to provide uranium to India. He also noted that both countries would collaborate on strengthening defense industries and improving maritime domain awareness.

Representatives from both governments also signed multiple memoranda of understanding covering critical minerals, energy cooperation, and cultural exchange programs.

Carney plans to continue his trip to Australia and Japan later Monday as part of his strategy to expand Canada’s trade relationships beyond the United States. His administration has established an objective to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports within the next ten years, citing concerns that American tariffs are discouraging investment.

BEIJING – Chinese officials confirmed Monday that one of their citizens died in Tehran amid escalating Middle East violence, while Beijing has successfully evacuated over 3,000 nationals from Iran.

The fatality occurred as tensions exploded following weekend strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks targeting Israel and Gulf nations where American military installations are located.

During a routine press conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning explained that diplomatic missions in surrounding nations have established working committees to receive and support evacuated citizens, though she provided no details about plans for their return to China.

Ning revealed that Beijing received no advance warning about Washington’s military operations against Iran.

The spokesperson also pushed back against reports suggesting Iran and China were nearing an agreement for supersonic anti-ship missile purchases, stating China remains a responsible major power that “always fulfilled its international obligations.”

Ning repeated Beijing’s condemnation of the strikes and Khamenei’s killing, calling on all involved nations to halt military operations immediately to avoid further escalation.

The Chinese official emphasized that Gulf states’ sovereignty, security and territorial boundaries must be completely respected, adding that China supports enhanced dialogue between nations in the region.

Growing tensions in the Middle East involving Iran are creating significant disruptions to oil shipments destined for Asian markets, as shipping vessels remain stuck in the Persian Gulf while crude oil and transportation expenses climb, according to industry experts and analysts who spoke Monday.

These supply chain interruptions underscore the vulnerability of Asia, which represents the globe’s largest oil-consuming region and relies on Middle Eastern producers for 60% of its petroleum needs, amid ongoing hostilities between the United States and Israel against Iran.

President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S.-Israeli military operations could extend for several weeks, potentially causing extended interruptions to shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that handles approximately 20% of worldwide oil production and a comparable portion of liquefied natural gas shipments from Middle Eastern suppliers.

Weekend attacks resulted in damage to three oil tankers and claimed the life of one crew member, while earlier strikes prompted roughly 200 vessels to anchor near the Strait as a safety precaution. Insurance companies withdrew war risk coverage on Monday, and industry experts anticipate shipping rates will spike as operators keep their fleets away from the area.

Citi analysts noted in their report: “Iran has not officially shut the Strait of Hormuz but risk aversion from shippers is a real phenomenon. Transit volumes have already declined with vessels parking outside the Strait.”

International oil prices jumped approximately 9% on Monday following earlier increases of up to 13%.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara addressed the situation during a briefing, stating: “Some crude oil tankers bound for Japan from the Middle East are waiting in the Persian Gulf, avoiding passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Japanese trading company Itochu confirmed it is facing “some impact” on Gulf shipments of crude oil and petroleum products and plans to obtain supplies from non-Middle Eastern sources, according to an email statement.

Japan’s largest refiner, Eneos, indicated it would evaluate effects on future crude oil purchasing while keeping watch on developments.

A prolonged closure of the Strait would drive oil costs higher and potentially create supply shortfalls for China and India, the world’s first and third-largest oil importing nations, compelling these countries to use emergency reserves and reduce refinery activity.

The International Energy Agency, comprising primarily developed nations, mandates that member countries maintain oil reserves equal to no less than 90 days of net oil imports.

Kihara stated that Japan currently has no immediate intentions to release from its strategic petroleum reserves, among the world’s most substantial.

Indonesia’s state energy corporation Pertamina announced it has implemented risk management strategies and is optimizing refinery operations to maintain fuel and liquefied petroleum gas availability. The nation serves as Southeast Asia’s top gasoline importer.

Several Indian refineries have already informed Middle Eastern suppliers they cannot secure vessels to transport crude oil, according to sources from two companies.

India’s energy ministry and refiners conducted weekend meetings to explore options for reducing the crisis’s impact on the nation’s energy security, sources revealed.

The refiners plan to examine all alternatives, including Russian oil pending New Delhi’s approval, if the crisis extends beyond 10-15 days, sources indicated.

One source explained: “Alternative routes to get oil from the Middle East are costly and availability is not there as ships are not willing to go through that route.”

The interruption of LNG deliveries from Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates would most severely affect Asian purchasers, particularly Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, analysts warned.

Rystad Energy analysts observed in their assessment: “Those countries face a choice between attracting LNG cargoes from other producers and reducing gas demand either by fuel switching or outright demand curtailment.”

China and Japan rank as the world’s top two LNG importing countries. However, Japan obtains most of its supply from Australia. Japanese utilities currently hold LNG inventory sufficient for approximately three weeks of domestic consumption, Kihara reported.

Recent military operations targeting Iran may influence North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to restart nuclear discussions with President Donald Trump, according to analysts and former government officials speaking from Seoul.

Previous diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and missile development collapsed after high-level meetings between Kim and Trump during 2018 and 2019, despite initial optimism. However, the recent Iranian situation could change Pyongyang’s calculations.

The military action that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei occurred two months following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American special operations forces under Trump’s direction.

“Kim must have thought Iran was attacked like that because it didn’t have nuclear weapons,” explained Song Seong-jong, who teaches at Daejeon University and previously worked for South Korea’s Defence Ministry.

North Korea’s foreign ministry described the military operation as unavoidable, characterizing the United States as “hegemonic and rogue” in a statement released through state-controlled media this past Sunday.

During a recent ruling party gathering, Kim announced plans to expand the country’s nuclear arsenal, though he suggested future discussions remained possible based on Washington’s approach.

“If the United States withdraws its policy of confrontation with North Korea by respecting our country’s current status … there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the U.S.,” Kim stated according to the KCNA news agency.

Trump has expressed interest in renewed discussions, leading to speculation about a potential meeting during his upcoming visit to China scheduled for March 31 through April 2.

“The lesson the Trump administration wants pariah states to take is clear; stop threatening America and its allies and make a deal before it is too late,” said Leif-Eric Easley, who teaches international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

Easley noted that North Korea has developed more sophisticated nuclear capabilities than Iran possessed, including advanced warhead technology and long-range missile systems.

North Korea formally adopted legislation in 2022 authorizing first-strike nuclear attacks, with Kim declaring this made the nation’s atomic status “irreversible.”

Sydney Seiler, currently a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former U.S. representative in six-nation nuclear talks, believes renewed negotiations haven’t been Kim’s main focus.

“President Trump’s willingness to use military force and threats for negotiating leverage must make Kim nervous and less likely to hastily seek talks,” Seiler observed.

Some experts suggest Kim’s increased security concerns might actually encourage diplomatic engagement.

“Unlike Iran, it’s impossible to denuclearise North Korea,” said Cho Han-bum from the government-funded Korea Institute for National Unification, pointing to the widespread distribution of nuclear facilities throughout the isolated nation.

International estimates suggest North Korea has built approximately 50 nuclear warheads and maintains sufficient materials to construct up to 40 additional weapons, according to last year’s assessment by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies, sees potential for discussions if Kim attempts “to leverage his personal rapport with President Trump to explore Washington’s position on North Korea, while at the same time buying time to further advance the country’s nuclear capabilities.”

Nam Sung-wook, who teaches at Sookmyung Women’s University and formerly led a research organization connected to South Korea’s intelligence service, believes Kim might agree to conditional talks if America recognizes North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

Nam also suggested the North Korean leader likely feels protected by relationships with China and Russia.

Kim traveled by armored train to Beijing last September, where he appeared alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a significant military demonstration.

Despite these international partnerships, Ko Young-hwan, a former North Korean diplomat who defected and now advises the South Korean government, thinks Kim may want to reassure Trump about nuclear restraint.

“The incident in Iran must have made him think he should manage relations with the United States better,” Ko concluded.

The upcoming Danish parliamentary election on March 24 will provide crucial insight into whether Greenlanders are ready to pursue independence, as competing political visions for the Arctic territory’s relationship with Denmark create rifts that could benefit US interests.

The current ruling coalition, headed by the Demokraatit party, supports a measured approach to eventual independence while maintaining strong ties with Denmark. However, the opposition Naleraq party demands immediate separation, creating a political split that experts believe Washington may attempt to leverage.

“The American side has begun to look for areas where Greenland has real disagreements with Denmark,” explained Ulrik Pram Gad, who studies the region at the Danish Institute for International Studies. However, he noted that recent US pressure has actually brought Nuuk and Copenhagen closer together.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen scheduled the election hoping to benefit from growing domestic approval of her strong resistance to American pressure regarding Greenland, a position that has earned widespread support across Denmark’s political landscape.

For Greenland, which transitioned from Danish colony status to become part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953, the election will determine whether US pressure has accelerated independence desires or increased frustration with both Denmark and the current island government. The territory’s independence movement, which started in the 1970s, has grown stronger in recent years.

Political tensions have intensified since Greenland held its own parliamentary election last March. Following Thursday’s announcement of the Danish election, Naleraq leader Pele Broberg criticized rival parties for “uncritically giving in to the wishes of Denmark and the Danish people for ownership of Greenland” and alleged some seek to “remove our right to independence.”

“As the only opposition party, Naleraq could well attract a lot of dissatisfied voters,” observed Rasmus Leander Nielsen, an associate professor at the University of Greenland.

Adding to the controversy, a Naleraq representative from Greenland’s parliament traveled to the United States over the past year, meeting with Trump administration officials without approval from Greenland’s government, further dividing public opinion among the territory’s 57,000 residents.

Experts suggest that growing frustration with Denmark and increasing demands for self-governance may weaken traditional support for coalition parties like Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit, making Greenland’s vote less predictable than in previous Danish elections.

Copenhagen has worked to mend its relationship with Greenland following several recent controversies involving alleged Danish authority misconduct.

Last year, Denmark issued a public apology to Greenlandic women who endured decades of forced birth control procedures. This contraception program was exposed in 2022 when documents revealed that thousands of women and girls as young as 13 received intrauterine devices without their knowledge or permission between 1966 and 1991, when Greenland took control of its healthcare system.

Siumut is demanding immediate publication of an expert report investigating whether this program constituted genocide, and wants voters to see the findings before the March 24 election.

Despite ongoing tensions, many Greenlanders appreciated Frederiksen’s success in securing support from important European allies when Trump renewed his interest in acquiring the island.

“Some have been very angry with Mette Frederiksen, but others have also pointed out that she has been quite good at defending Greenland,” Leander noted.

SINGAPORE – Online prediction markets are facing intense examination following millions of dollars in wagers placed on U.S. military strikes against Iran and bets regarding the removal of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from his leadership position.

Khamenei died during Israeli military operations over the weekend.

Betting odds shifted dramatically as reports of his death spread, with analysts highlighting a surge of wagers placed on his removal both immediately prior to the strikes and earlier in January. Legal experts are now questioning whether these markets operate within the law.

Approximately $529 million was wagered across multiple Polymarket contracts related to attack timing, with successful bettors who predicted Saturday as the strike date receiving payouts. An additional $150 million was placed across two contested contracts concerning Khamenei’s removal as Iran’s supreme leader.

Data analysis company Bubblemaps reported on social media platform X that six user accounts generated $1.2 million in profits from Polymarket wagers funded just hours before Saturday’s military operations. Meanwhile, Polysights, a separate analytics company, had previously identified unusual purchasing activity in mid-January from newly created accounts with minimal transaction history, focusing on Iran-related contracts and specifically Polymarket bets predicting “Khamenei out” before March ended.

Polymarket did not respond to email requests for comment. The platform’s “Khamenei out” contracts are currently in a “debate period” following disputes from token holders regarding the outcome resolution.

Competing platform Kalshi also operated a “Khamenei out” market but ultimately refunded trader fees and returned payments based on the final trading price before his death, according to the company’s CEO who used social media to justify the firm’s approach to these wagers.

“When there are markets where potential outcomes involve death, we design the rules to prevent people from profiting from death. That is what we did here,” Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour stated on X.

REGULATORY CONCERNS

Prediction markets provide tradeable contracts with yes-or-no outcomes, enabling users to place bets on various real-world events spanning sports, politics, and economic matters. Wager prices fluctuate between zero and 100 cents based on trading activity, typically paying $1 to winning bettors once results are verified.

Federal regulations prohibit betting that conflicts with public interest, potentially including warfare or political assassinations. Last month, six Democratic senators expressed concerns to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that prediction markets may violate existing regulations.

“It’s insane this is legal… I’m introducing legislation ASAP to ban this,” Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy posted on X Sunday, responding to Bubblemaps’ analysis of Polymarket activity. Murphy was not among the six Democrats who signed the previous letter to regulators.

These betting platforms gained massive popularity following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, when their real-time probability calculations proved more reliable than traditional polling in forecasting Donald Trump’s electoral success.

Global prediction market trading volume reached $47 billion last year, according to Clear Street brokerage analysts, representing a betting surge that’s drawing both legal challenges and significant Wall Street interest.

ICE, which owns the New York Stock Exchange, has invested $2 billion in Polymarket, while trading platform Plus500 launched prediction markets on its U.S. consumer platform last month through a Kalshi partnership.

These platforms have also encountered insider trading allegations and operate in uncertain regulatory territory, with prediction market operators arguing they should fall under CFTC oversight rather than state gambling regulators.

In January, an unidentified trader earned approximately $410,000 in profits after betting on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s removal from office.

The Middle East conflict has reached a new level of intensity as Iran and militias aligned with the Islamic Republic launched missile strikes targeting Israel, prompting retaliatory attacks from Israeli forces and the United States against Iranian positions.

The exchange of fire represents a major escalation in the regional war, with the conflict now directly involving Iran in missile attacks against Israeli territory.

Associated Press photographers have documented the aftermath of these attacks through a collection of images showing the impact on Israeli communities following Iran’s missile barrage.

China’s leadership will reveal their strategy for the next phase of technological competition with the United States when parliament convenes this week, focusing on transforming recent advances in artificial intelligence, space exploration, and robotics into widespread industrial success.

The National People’s Congress will present the government’s annual work report and budget proposals on Thursday, along with the 15th Five-Year Plan covering 2026-2030. This comprehensive blueprint will establish priorities for industrial development and indicate which sectors will receive substantial government funding and support.

These documents reveal Beijing’s strategic focus areas and signal where generous financial backing will flow. In the previous year’s report, artificial intelligence models were mentioned for the first time, alongside embodied intelligence – the technology driving humanoid robots.

The parliamentary session occurs just weeks before a scheduled meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump from March 31 to April 2, where technology restrictions and supply chain issues are anticipated to be major discussion points.

The timing also coincides with the one-year anniversary of Chinese AI companies capturing worldwide attention through dramatic capability improvements despite strict U.S. limitations on advanced semiconductor access and manufacturing equipment.

DeepSeek, the Chinese startup whose popular AI model release caused a global technology stock decline and changed perceptions about China’s technological competitiveness against America, is anticipated to launch an advanced model in the near future.

“The shock is over,” stated Alfredo Montufar-Helu, a managing director at Ankura Consulting in Beijing. “Now there is an expectation of what China can come up with next.”

Beijing faces the challenge of converting individual technological achievements into comprehensive, large-scale improvements across manufacturing, logistics, and energy sectors.

Shujing He, a senior analyst at advisory firm Plenum China, indicated that policymakers will likely promote “AI-plus manufacturing” by utilizing major state-owned enterprises as primary adopters, bringing startups and specialized suppliers into practical applications.

This approach is expected to transform China’s industrial landscape. Shin Nakamura, president of Japanese manufacturer Daiwa Steel Tube Industries, suggested China’s AI initiative will benefit large, capital-intensive producers capable of handling deployment costs, while smaller companies encounter structural limitations.

“The gap between large enterprises and SMEs in China will widen, and consolidation will accelerate,” he explained.

The five-year strategy is also expected to emphasize embodied intelligence development. China demonstrated its progress in this field last month by featuring Chinese-manufactured humanoid robots performing dance and martial arts on the country’s most popular television program, the annual CCTV Spring Festival celebration.

Significant hardware technology advances support China’s confidence in robotics capabilities.

“Mechatronics — especially balance, motor control and dynamic locomotion — has improved dramatically over the past 12 months,” said Mike Nielsen, an executive at computer vision firm RealSense, which has collaborated extensively with prominent Chinese robotics company Unitree. “China has shown major momentum, with early-stage platforms now demonstrating much higher agility and stability.”

However, Chinese regulators are expressing concern about limited differentiation among more than 150 domestic humanoid robot developers, and analysts predict consolidation will occur more rapidly than in previous strategic sectors like electric vehicles.

Space technology represents another opportunity for Beijing to demonstrate its ability to convert research into industrial capabilities. Private launch company LandSpace announced plans for another recovery attempt this year for its reusable Zhuque-3 rocket, following its achievement as the first Chinese company to complete a full test of an orbital-class reusable launcher in December.

Despite the enthusiasm, China’s emerging industries will not produce enough investment to sustain 5% GDP growth in upcoming years, according to a January report from U.S. research firm Rhodium Group, indicating Beijing will maintain its reliance on exports to support the economy.

This situation means Beijing will prioritize sectors with more immediate commercial potential like autonomous driving, according to Plenum’s He.

Analysts expect the five-year plan will be examined closely for Beijing’s intentions to safeguard the industrial foundations supporting its technology advancement, as supply chains increasingly become tools of geopolitical influence.

Throughout the past year, China has broadened its use of export restrictions to include rare earth materials and basic semiconductors, disrupting global supply chains and highlighting Beijing’s economic influence.

China’s State Council and industry ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Additional supply chains essential to the global economy remain susceptible to Chinese dependencies, according to Doug Friedman, CEO of U.S. biomanufacturing institute BioMADE.

“What we see happening with rare earths is also happening in the industrial chemicals industry,” Friedman noted.

As Beijing prepares to announce its next five-year industrial strategy, Friedman emphasized the growing significance of the competition.

“Right now, we’re neck and neck,” he said, referring to the U.S. and China. “Whoever doubles down over the next three to five years is going to gain a real lead.”

SYDNEY – The Australian Senate delivered a formal rebuke Monday to controversial politician Pauline Hanson following divisive remarks she made about Muslims during a February television appearance.

The censure motion targeted statements Hanson made on Sky News while discussing potential repatriation of Australian family members connected to Islamic State fighters in Syria. During that interview, Hanson declared: “They hate Westerners, and that’s what it’s all about. You say there’s great Muslims out there, well I’m sorry, how can you tell me there are good Muslims?”

Senate Labor leader Penny Wong introduced the formal condemnation, which described Hanson’s remarks as “inflammatory and divisive comments seeking to vilify Muslim Australians, which do not reflect the opinions of the Australian Senate or the Australian people.”

The measure gained approval with backing from the Greens party and two members of the conservative Liberal party who broke ranks with their colleagues.

Wong explained the significance of the action, stating: “This censure motion is about drawing a line and sending a message to the people of faith in this country and sending a message to children in this country that your leaders believe that condemning an entire religion is not acceptable.”

Hanson dismissed the proceedings as a “stunt” and left the chamber in protest.

The Queensland representative, who heads the anti-immigration One Nation party, first gained national attention during the 1990s through her vocal opposition to Asian immigration and asylum seekers. She has made headlines for wearing a burqa in Parliament on two occasions, including as recently as November, as part of her campaign to prohibit public wearing of the Islamic garment.

Despite the controversy, polling data indicates Hanson’s One Nation party has gained ground against the country’s conservative opposition coalition, capturing 28% of primary voter support as anti-immigration sentiment grows.

Myanmar’s military leader has authorized the release of over 10,000 inmates while reducing sentences for additional prisoners in observance of a national holiday, according to state media reports released Monday.

However, there are no indications that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was removed from power during the 2021 military coup and has remained in isolation since, will be among those freed.

This prisoner release occurs just two weeks prior to parliament’s scheduled reconvening for its initial session in over five years, following a recent election that opposition groups characterized as lacking freedom and fairness.

According to state broadcaster MRTV, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who leads Myanmar’s military administration, freed 10,162 inmates on Peasants’ Day, a national celebration dedicated to agricultural workers. Among those released, 7,337 had been sentenced under anti-terrorism legislation.

An additional announcement revealed that 12,487 individuals who faced prosecution under the same law or had gone into hiding will also receive pardons and have their incitement charges dismissed.

This legislation includes possible death sentences and has been extensively employed to detain and convict political dissidents, media personnel, and other critics following the military’s 2021 seizure of power.

The statements also indicated that ten foreign nationals will be freed and expelled from Myanmar.

Holiday-related mass prisoner releases are common practice in Myanmar. While the releases started Monday, the process may continue for several days. Officials have not yet disclosed the names of those being freed.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent group that maintains comprehensive records of arrests and deaths related to the country’s political turmoil, reports that over 22,800 political prisoners remained in custody as of last Friday.

Among these detainees is the 80-year-old Suu Kyi, who is currently serving a 27-year prison term following convictions that her supporters describe as politically motivated legal proceedings.

Following Israel’s extensive military campaign in response to Hamas’s devastating October 7, 2023 attack, Tehran has watched its regional influence steadily crumble as Israeli forces systematically targeted Iran’s network of allied militant organizations throughout the Middle East.

This gradual erosion of Iranian power over the last two and a half years created the conditions for this weekend’s catastrophic strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran itself, marking a dramatic transformation in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

“Certainly the Oct. 7 events were a turning point in this long conflict between Iran and Israel,” explained Mehrzad Boroujerdi, who studies Iranian politics at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “I think it provided Israel with the argument or justification to deliver a strong blow.”

The most catastrophic blow occurred over the weekend when President Donald Trump and Israeli leadership coordinated a series of strikes against Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and causing extensive damage across the country. However, this current conflict represents the culmination of a prolonged series of events that have significantly diminished Iran’s strength along with Hezbollah and other allied militant organizations, fundamentally altering the region’s political equilibrium.

“It’s a very bloody, a very violent but transformative moment that the Middle East is going through,” observed Renad Mansour, who researches Middle Eastern affairs at Chatham House, a British policy institute. “We don’t know where this will end up.”

Iran’s declining influence stemmed from the Gaza conflict, where Israeli military units pursued Hamas militants following their attack that claimed 1,200 lives and resulted in 251 people being taken hostage on October 7. Israeli operations have subsequently resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, with nearly half being women and children, based on figures from the Health Ministry operating under Hamas governance, which does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants.

The fighting rapidly spread to encompass additional organizations within Iran’s sponsored network known as the Axis of Resistance.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a formidable militant organization, had traditionally served as Iran’s primary defensive force against potential Israeli aggression. The group reportedly possessed approximately 150,000 rockets and missiles, with its deceased leader Hassan Nasrallah previously claiming to command 100,000 combatants.

Following October 7, Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel to support Hamas, prompting Israeli air attacks and artillery fire that eventually developed into comprehensive warfare during autumn 2024.

Israeli operations severely damaged Hezbollah’s capabilities, eliminating Nasrallah along with other senior commanders and destroying significant portions of the organization’s weaponry, until a U.S.-brokered ceasefire theoretically ended hostilities in November. Israeli forces continue maintaining positions in southern Lebanon while conducting almost daily aerial bombardments.

Hezbollah suffered additional setbacks when rebel forces toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, eliminating a crucial pathway for Iranian arms shipments.

Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen entered the widening confrontation by launching missiles at Red Sea shipping and Israeli targets, drawing return fire from U.S. naval forces and Israeli military units.

As hostilities expanded, Iranian leadership and their allied groups failed to understand that Israel had rejected the previously maintained tense equilibrium and sought to create fundamental changes, according to Mansour.

Iran faced escalating consequences last June when Israel initiated an unexpected offensive designed to destroy Tehran’s rapidly progressing nuclear capabilities while Iran and the United States were conducting nuclear agreement discussions. The subsequent 12-day conflict included bombing campaigns against Iran’s energy sector and Defense Ministry facilities.

Iran’s weakened allied organizations largely remained uninvolved as their benefactor faced direct assault last year, and they have maintained similar positions in the current fighting.

“It’s very much about survival” for Hezbollah and other Iranian-supported organizations, Mansour noted. He explained that the Axis has gradually become less dependent on direct Iranian commands, with member groups developing greater independence. “And survival to them is based on calculations that aren’t necessarily about Iran’s survival.”

Since Israel and the United States began their coordinated assault on Iran Saturday, Tehran’s regional partners and allied groups have played minimal roles in responding.

Hezbollah appeared to alter this approach early Monday, despite significant pressure from Lebanese authorities to avoid entering the conflict in Iran’s defense due to concerns about another destructive war in Lebanon.

Hezbollah released statements denouncing the U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran and expressing grief over Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, then suggested possible involvement. Early Monday morning, the organization fired missiles across the border, prompting immediate Israeli retaliation against Beirut’s southern districts. This marked Hezbollah’s first claimed attack against Israel in over twelve months.

Hezbollah announced in their statement that these strikes were conducted as retaliation for Khamenei’s killing and in response to “repeated Israeli aggressions.”

The potential reactions of other allied groups to Khamenei’s death remain uncertain. Charles Lister, a senior analyst at the Middle East Institute, suggested that Israel’s actions since 2023 might make such organizations more cautious.

“Previous bouts of conflict since Oct. 7 appear to have underlined the existential risk associated with making yourself a target,” Lister stated in an email response to Associated Press inquiries.

In Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias identifying as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has taken responsibility for multiple drone attacks against U.S. installations in Irbil, the capital of the semi-independent Kurdish region in northern Iraq. The full extent of damage from these operations remains unclear. However, the Kurdish area has experienced widespread electrical outages after a major gas facility supplying much of the region’s power ceased operations due to security considerations.

Two sources from different Iranian-allied Iraqi militias informed the AP that Iranian representatives met with allied Iraqi organizations two months ago to develop response plans if Iran came under attack, including assigning specific responsibilities to various Iraqi armed factions.

These sources requested anonymity as they lacked authorization for public statements. One source indicated the planned response would focus on U.S. personnel and assets in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region and in nearby Jordan.

Many people incorrectly assume that Iran simply commands its allied militant organizations and they automatically comply, Boroujerdi explained. However, the independent choices these groups have made to avoid the current conflict demonstrate the overall deterioration of Iran’s network.

“The dominoes started to fall with the October 7 events,” Boroujerdi stated. “Just take note of everything that has changed since then in terms of the balance of power.”

Regional conflict expanded dramatically Monday as Tehran launched missile strikes against Israel and Arab nations, while Iranian-supported militias including Hezbollah escalated their involvement in the widening Middle Eastern warfare.

Following continued American and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory, senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani declared on social media platform X: “We will not negotiate with the United States.”

Former President Trump, who recently encouraged Iranian citizens to “take over” their government, indicated Sunday his willingness to engage in talks with Iran’s emerging leadership.

Iran’s foreign minister hinted that military forces may be operating without centralized government oversight when questioned about strikes on Gulf Arab countries that previously served as diplomatic intermediaries for Tehran.

Iranian officials report over 200 fatalities since the beginning of strikes that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking officials.

The United Arab Emirates announced the closure of its primary stock exchanges as regional warfare intensifies. The Capital Market Authority confirmed that both the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market would remain shuttered Monday and Tuesday.

Officials stated they will continue monitoring regional developments and implement additional measures as needed. The Nasdaq Dubai exchange similarly suspended operations for both days.

Dubai serves as the Gulf’s primary commercial center, while Abu Dhabi functions as a crucial regional financial hub housing some of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index, the region’s biggest stock market, dropped 2.2 percent Sunday.

As Kuwait experienced continued attacks, U.S. officials issued emergency advisories for American citizens to seek shelter and stay indoors. The warning stated: “Do not come to the Embassy,” without providing additional details.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported Monday that Israeli airstrikes following Hezbollah’s attack resulted in at least 31 deaths. The ministry indicated the strikes also injured 149 people, with approximately two-thirds of casualties occurring in southern Lebanon.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed that a Shaheed-type drone caused “minor material damage” to military facilities at the U.K.’s RAF Akrotiri base on the island’s southern coastline. The president said the drone impact occurred shortly after midnight Monday.

Christodoulides announced all relevant agencies have been placed on high alert and called a national security council meeting to assess the situation. “I want to be clear: our homeland is not participating in any way, nor is its intention to take part in any military operation,” he stated during a national address.

He emphasized Cyprus remains committed to its humanitarian mission in the region and seeks to be “part of the solution and not the problem,” prioritizing citizen safety and national security.

Overnight strikes were documented throughout Iran, while explosions echoed through Dubai Monday. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry activated sirens nationwide, urging residents to “head to the nearest safe place.”

Kuwaiti authorities reported debris struck the Ahmadi oil refinery, causing minor injuries to two workers. The state-run KUNA news agency earlier confirmed that Kuwait’s forces successfully intercepted a drone attack early Monday.

Ali Larijani’s refusal to negotiate with the United States came in response to reporting by Qatar’s Al Jazeera news network, as American and Israeli bombing campaigns continue targeting Iran.

Tehran and its allied militias have intensified their attacks following Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine are scheduled to conduct a Monday morning press conference regarding military operations against Iran. The Pentagon announced the 8 a.m. EST briefing Sunday evening on social media.

Tuesday will see Hegseth and Caine joining Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in briefing the complete Congressional membership on the strikes, according to White House announcements. Rubio was also scheduled to brief Hill leadership Monday.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Hezbollah’s rocket launches from Lebanon, stating they “target all the efforts and endeavors exerted by the Lebanese state to keep Lebanon away from the dangerous military confrontations taking place in the region.”

While condemning Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Aoun warned that “persisting in using Lebanon once again as a platform for proxy wars in which we have no involvement will expose our country to risks once more.”

Cyprus government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis confirmed an “incident” at the British air base involved an “unmanned drone which caused limited damage.” He said the RAF Akrotiri incident occurred shortly after midnight Monday, with “information received through various channels” indicating a drone strike.

Letymbiotis did not specify the drone type, launch location, or damage extent. He confirmed Cypriot authorities activated security protocols and are monitoring developments in coordination with the U.K. and its two Cypriot military installations.

The suspected drone attack followed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s commitment to assist the U.S. in the conflict against Iran.

Kuwaiti defense forces successfully shot down multiple hostile drones on Monday, as Iran continued its third consecutive day of retaliatory attacks targeting Gulf region neighbors following weekend strikes by the United States and Israel.

According to the state news agency, Kuwait’s air defense systems intercepted most of the threatening drones near the Rumaithiya and Salwa neighborhoods, with the civil defense director-general confirming no casualties resulted from the incident.

Residents in Kuwait reported hearing loud explosions and warning sirens earlier in the day, according to witness accounts.

Iranian officials announced plans to strike American military installations throughout the region after the U.S. and Israel conducted attacks against Iran over the weekend.

The expanding conflict has also impacted civilian and commercial districts across multiple Gulf cities, creating broader disruptions to important regional aviation routes and trade centers.

Defense Department officials disclosed during private congressional briefings Sunday that intelligence showed no evidence Iran intended to launch initial attacks against American military personnel, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions.

The weekend briefings appear to contradict justifications previously offered by the Trump administration for launching extensive military operations against Iran on Saturday. These strikes, conducted alongside Israeli forces, have targeted over 1,000 locations and resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the destruction of Iranian naval vessels.

Administration representatives had told media outlets Friday that President Trump authorized the military action partly due to intelligence suggesting Iranian forces might conduct strikes against US personnel in the Middle East region.

One official stated Trump refused to “sit back and allow American forces in the region to absorb attacks.”

The Pentagon conducted briefings lasting more than 90 minutes with both Democratic and Republican committee staff from the Senate and House of Representatives, according to White House spokesperson Dylan Johnson.

During these sessions, defense officials stressed that Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and regional proxy networks created immediate dangers to American interests, though they confirmed no intelligence existed showing Tehran would initiate hostilities against US forces, the anonymous sources revealed.

Trump has stated the ongoing military campaign, expected to continue for several weeks, seeks to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons development, limit their missile programs, and remove threats facing America and allied nations. The president has also called for Iranian citizens to overthrow their government.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized what they characterize as an unnecessary conflict, questioning Trump’s decision to abandon diplomatic negotiations that Oman, serving as mediator, indicated still showed potential for success.

The president has claimed, without providing supporting evidence, that Iran was close to developing intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities to strike American territory. Intelligence sources have told reporters this assertion lacks backing from official assessments and appears overstated.

These questions about military justification emerge as the Pentagon announced the conflict’s first American casualties Sunday.

US Central Command reported three service members killed and five seriously injured, with additional personnel suffering minor shrapnel wounds and concussions.

American aircraft and naval vessels have hit more than 1,000 Iranian targets since major combat operations began, military officials confirmed. The strikes included B-2 stealth bomber missions using 2,000-pound bombs against fortified underground missile installations.

A Sunday Reuters/Ipsos survey found 27% of Americans support the military strikes, while 43% oppose them and 29% remain undecided.

PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron delivered a major address Monday outlining France’s nuclear defense strategy, speaking as European nations grow increasingly worried about potential American withdrawal from regional security and escalating Russian aggression.

As the only nuclear-armed member of the European Union, France operates under a defensive deterrence strategy designed to protect the nation’s “vital interests.” Macron has consistently argued these “vital interests” extend beyond France’s borders to include a “European dimension.”

Though France participates in NATO, the country maintains complete control over its nuclear arsenal while supporting the alliance’s overall deterrence strategy. France’s constitution grants the president exclusive authority as military commander-in-chief to authorize nuclear weapon deployment.

An examination of France’s nuclear capabilities reveals the scope of its strategic power:

The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle stands as Europe’s sole surface vessel equipped to deploy nuclear weapons through Rafale fighter aircraft launched via catapult systems.

This naval flagship has recently conducted operations in North Atlantic and Baltic waters, including a recent port call in Malmo, Sweden.

Due to extensive maintenance periods required for the carrier, France lacks continuous sea-based nuclear air capabilities.

In December, Macron announced plans for constructing a replacement nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to succeed the Charles de Gaulle by 2038.

France operates four nuclear submarines: Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire, Le Vigilant and Le Terrible. These vessels operate from the highly classified Ile Longue facility on France’s Atlantic coastline.

Each 453-foot submarine requires approximately 110 crew members and can deploy 16 M51 intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with multiple nuclear warheads.

France has maintained continuous submarine patrols since 1972, guaranteeing the nation’s permanent nuclear strike capability.

The ASMPA air-launched cruise missile system — an enhanced medium-range air-to-surface weapon — can strike targets approximately 310 miles away.

Deployed by Rafale fighters, this weapon serves as an ultimate warning before potential escalation to full-scale nuclear warfare.

The Strategic Air Forces, established in 1964 and stationed at three French locations, operates these missiles, which can also launch from Charles de Gaulle-based aircraft.

The M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile can reach targets between 5,000 and 6,200 miles away, though exact specifications remain classified.

An enhanced M51 version became operational in October, featuring improved targeting precision and better defense-penetration capabilities, according to France’s Defense Ministry. Each missile carries multiple independently targeted nuclear warheads.

Research organizations including the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and Federation of American Scientists estimate France possesses 290 nuclear warheads. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reports over 80% of French warheads are submarine-deployed.

This arsenal positions France as the world’s fourth-largest nuclear power, following Russia with over 4,300 warheads, the United States with approximately 3,700, and China with about 600. Britain, no longer an EU member but NATO ally, maintains roughly 225 warheads according to SIPRI and FAS estimates.

These five countries hold recognized nuclear-weapon status under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

India, Pakistan and North Korea have publicly acknowledged nuclear weapons programs. Israel is widely suspected of possessing nuclear capabilities but has never officially confirmed this.

Nations closely guard precise warhead inventory numbers as state secrets.

Iran maintains its nuclear program serves only peaceful purposes, though the country has recently enriched uranium to 60% purity — approaching the 90% weapons-grade threshold.

UN nuclear monitors reported Friday they cannot confirm whether Iran has halted uranium enrichment activities, according to an Associated Press report preceding major U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran.

BUENOS AIRES — In a confrontational address to Argentina’s Congress on Sunday, libertarian President Javier Milei celebrated his administration’s accomplishments while launching verbal attacks against opposition legislators and expressing admiration for his connection with U.S. President Donald Trump.

During the hour-and-a-half presentation, Milei engaged in heated exchanges with opposition members of parliament, branding them as “thieves,” “murderers” and “ignorant” while showcasing what he characterized as his administration’s major successes during his first year in office.

The congressional address came following a string of policy wins for Milei’s government, encompassing workplace reform legislation, modifications to juvenile criminal accountability laws, the Mercosur-European Union commercial pact, and preliminary passage of environmental protection measures for glaciers.

“This has been one of the most productive extraordinary sessions in our history, fulfilling all the campaign promises made in 2025,” Milei said.

Key themes in Milei’s remarks centered on Argentina’s capacity to export natural resources and energy supplies, along with the nation’s advantageous geographic position. He stressed the importance of staying aligned with Washington, pointing to successful financial assistance from the U.S. government in the previous year and referencing his “special relationship” with Trump, whom he called a “key ally.”

Milei added that “we have to create the century of the Americas. Make America Great Again.”

The Argentine leader also contended that his country holds essential minerals sought by Western nations and highlighted the nation’s strategic positioning between two oceans and near Antarctica. “We are a natural link in the West’s strategic value chain,” he asserted.

Throughout his remarks, Milei engaged in heated confrontations with opposition representatives, branding them as dishonest and corrupt, while also targeting former leftist leader Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who remains incarcerated on corruption-related charges.

Last Friday marked a significant legislative triumph for Milei when lawmakers approved his workplace reform package that will dramatically reshape Argentina’s employment landscape, despite strong resistance from left-leaning political groups and the nation’s primary labor organization.

Political analyst Juan Negri from Torcuato Di Tella University’s Political Science department told The Associated Press that Milei now holds considerably more legislative influence.

“We find him with significant support and, through his allies, with a parliamentary majority that seemed unprecedented in 2023,” he said.

When Milei took office in 2023, he faced an opposition that vowed to block the free-market reforms championed by his La Libertad Avanza party, which ranked as merely the third-largest congressional faction in both legislative chambers. During his early presidential months, Milei experienced intense conflicts with lawmakers, whom he denounced as a “rat’s nest” for blocking his policy agenda.

Following the 2025 legislative contests, La Libertad Avanza partnered with the conservative Republican Proposal (PRO) party to become the dominant force in both congressional houses, securing the one-third threshold necessary to sustain presidential vetoes.

The administration has also solidified backing from previously hesitant or critical allies, including certain PRO members “who are now perfectly aligned with the ruling party,” according to Gustavo Marangoni, a Buenos Aires political analyst and head of the M & R Asociados consulting group.

Marangoni noted that Milei has also gained support from numerous provincial leaders who, despite their varied political backgrounds, have recognized the benefits of working cooperatively with the federal government.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Military operations across the Middle East intensified Monday as Iranian-backed forces launched missile attacks against Israeli and Arab targets, while American and Israeli aircraft continued devastating strikes against Iranian positions amid escalating threats and warnings of additional U.S. military losses.

During the ongoing American and Israeli bombing campaign, senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani declared defiantly on X that “we will not negotiate with the United States.”

Iraqi pro-Iranian militia forces took credit for a drone assault on American personnel stationed at Baghdad’s airport, following their previous day’s attack on a U.S. installation in northern Irbil, while Cyprus reported that attackers targeted a British military facility on the island nation.

Combined Israeli and American forces struck Iranian missile installations and naval assets, reporting the destruction of the Iranian navy’s command center and numerous vessels. Iranian officials report more than 200 fatalities since the bombardment began.

During continued attacks, Hezbollah announced it launched rockets from Lebanese territory into Israel early Monday, citing retaliation for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death and “repeated Israeli aggressions,” marking the militant organization’s first claimed strike in over twelve months. Israeli forces reported intercepting one projectile while others landed in uninhabited areas, with no casualties or property damage reported.

Israeli forces responded with strikes against Beirut, warning residents in approximately 50 eastern and southern Lebanese communities to evacuate before potential additional attacks, prompting mass civilian displacement.

Iranian forces have maintained missile bombardments against Israeli and Arab territories in a retaliatory campaign following Saturday’s joint American-Israeli operation that eliminated Khamenei and numerous senior Iranian officials.

Persian Gulf nations have threatened potential retaliation against Iran following strikes that damaged critical infrastructure and killed at least five non-combatants, while U.S. President Donald Trump pledged Washington would “avenge” three American service members killed in Kuwait.

“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” Trump said. “That’s the way it is.”

Trump has encouraged Iranians to “take over” their government and, despite indicating openness to discussions with new Iranian leadership after Khamenei’s death, suggested Sunday that military action would continue indefinitely.

“Combat operations continue at this time in full-force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved,” he said in a video message. “We have very strong objectives,” he added, without elaborating.

Military officials confirmed that B-2 stealth aircraft attacked Iranian ballistic missile complexes using 2,000-pound ordnance. Trump announced via social media that nine Iranian naval vessels were destroyed and the Iranian navy’s command structure was “largely destroyed.”

Indicating potential broader international involvement, Britain, France and Germany announced readiness to collaborate with American efforts to halt Iranian attacks, while Gulf Arab nations declared they maintained the option to respond to Iranian strikes.

Saturday’s attacks marked the second coordinated American-Israeli military action against Iran within eight months. During June’s 12-day conflict, Israeli and American forces significantly degraded Iran’s air defense systems, military command structure and nuclear capabilities. However, Khamenei’s death, ending his three-decade rule, creates an authority gap that heightens regional instability risks.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has transformed into one of Iran’s most influential military organizations since emerging from the 1979 revolution, operating independently from regular military forces while controlling the nation’s missile capabilities and international operations.

This elite force has gained renewed attention as regional tensions escalate following recent military exchanges between Israel and Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during coordinated airstrikes.

The organization originated during Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution with the mission of safeguarding the newly established Shiite clerical government. It developed alongside Iran’s conventional military during the devastating Iran-Iraq conflict of the 1980s, eventually gaining constitutional recognition.

Following the war’s conclusion, Supreme Leader Khamenei authorized the Guard’s expansion into commercial ventures, preventing its dissolution and enabling significant growth. Today, the organization operates Khatam al-Anbia, a major construction enterprise, along with companies managing infrastructure projects, port operations, telecommunications systems, and medical services including laser vision correction.

The Guard’s specialized international wing, known as the Quds Force, played a central role in establishing Iran’s self-described ‘Axis of Resistance’ targeting Israel and the United States. This network supported Syria’s former leader Bashar Assad, Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, Yemen’s Houthi fighters, and various regional allies, gaining strength after the 2003 U.S.-led Iraq invasion.

American officials report that Guard operatives trained Iraqi insurgents in manufacturing sophisticated explosive devices used against coalition forces. Intelligence suggests the Quds Force and Iranian spy agencies recruited criminal organizations to target dissidents and perceived enemies internationally.

During the current Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli authorities have detained citizens allegedly receiving Iranian instructions for surveillance and sabotage activities. Iran has rejected involvement in these alleged operations. The Guard also reportedly maintains extensive smuggling networks throughout the Middle East.

The organization operates independent intelligence services responsible for arresting and prosecuting dual citizens and individuals with Western connections on espionage charges through secret proceedings. International observers have criticized Iran for using these detainees as negotiating leverage, particularly regarding nuclear discussions.

The carefully constructed ‘Axis of Resistance’ faces unprecedented challenges following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. While Iran supports Hamas, Israel has systematically targeted Iranian-backed organizations, severely weakening Hezbollah and repeatedly striking Houthi positions in Yemen.

Syria’s government collapsed in December 2024, eliminating a crucial Iranian ally and Guard partner. Direct missile exchanges between Israel and Iran have occurred under Guard oversight.

Israeli forces launched extensive airstrikes against Iran in June, killing senior Guard commanders on the first day and disrupting organizational structure. These attacks eliminated ballistic missile facilities and Guard-operated air defense installations.

Domestically, Iran’s theocratic government relies heavily on the Basij, the Guard’s volunteer militia, to suppress civil unrest. Protest footage from December 28 demonstrations shows Basij forces carrying firearms, clubs, and pellet weapons while beating demonstrators and pursuing them through city streets. A prominent Basij leader appeared on state television warning parents to keep children indoors while calling for force deployment against protesters.

The European Union designated the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization in January, citing Iran’s violent suppression of domestic protests.

Iran’s foreign minister recently suggested military units operate independently from central government oversight when questioned about attacks on Gulf Arab nations that previously served as Iranian intermediaries. Strikes have targeted Oman, which facilitated recent nuclear negotiations with the United States, and Qatar, which has mediated with Tehran and shares a major natural gas field with Iran.

‘What happened in Oman was not our choice. We have already told our, you know, army, armed forces to be careful about the targets that they choose,’ Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on March 1. ‘As a matter of fact, our, you know, military units are now in fact independent and somehow isolated and they are acting based on instructions — you know, general instructions — given to them in advance.’

While militaries worldwide develop contingency plans for wartime scenarios, including government disruption, Iran presents unique concerns given the Guard’s control over extensive ballistic missile arsenals and drone stockpiles.

Araghchi’s statements may serve to justify recent attacks while attempting to reduce tensions with Gulf Arab neighbors, who have expressed increasing frustration over continued strikes despite recent diplomatic efforts.

During his congressional address on Sunday, Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei outlined his administration’s commitment to comprehensive tax reform, emphasizing the need for reduced tax burdens across the nation.

Speaking to lawmakers in Buenos Aires, Milei articulated his economic philosophy regarding taxation and government revenue. “We need lower taxes because the tax system must serve growth, not the revenue needs of whoever is in office,” the president declared during his remarks.

Beyond fiscal policy, Milei announced his government’s intention to pursue broader institutional changes, including modifications to Argentina’s electoral framework and updates to the nation’s criminal justice code. He indicated these additional reforms would be priorities for his administration heading into 2026.

The president’s address comes on the heels of a significant legislative win for his government. Just days earlier, Argentina’s Congress passed controversial workplace legislation that opponents argue will make employee terminations easier for businesses to execute. This victory followed Milei’s strong performance in the country’s October midterm electoral contests.

Israeli forces conducted fresh airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon on Monday, broadening a Middle East military campaign that President Donald Trump indicated could persist for several weeks.

The strikes targeted locations linked to the Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia group following Hezbollah’s admission that it fired missiles and drones at Israeli territory in response to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Israeli defense forces reported successfully intercepting one projectile from Lebanon while additional munitions struck uninhabited regions within Israeli borders.

More than a dozen explosions shook Beirut on Monday as Israeli warplanes targeted Hezbollah-controlled areas in the capital’s southern districts. Israeli military officials confirmed they also hit high-ranking Hezbollah operatives in the vicinity of Beirut.

Residents evacuated Beirut on foot and in vehicles, creating massive traffic jams, after the bombing campaign commenced at approximately 2:40 a.m. local time.

The current violence breaks a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon established in 2024 following over a year of combat that significantly damaged Hezbollah’s capabilities.

These retaliatory strikes between Hezbollah and Israel have expanded the regional crisis that erupted when American and Israeli forces attacked Iran on Saturday, causing oil prices to spike and disrupting international air travel.

Lebanon’s government reported receiving assurances from the U.S. ambassador on Saturday that Israel would not intensify operations against Lebanon provided no aggressive actions originated from Lebanese territory.

Israeli military commanders declared Hezbollah “fully responsible for any escalation” while issuing evacuation orders to residents of numerous villages throughout southern and eastern Lebanon.

Late Sunday, Israeli military officials announced their air force had achieved air superiority over Tehran, conducting widespread strikes across the Iranian capital that targeted intelligence facilities, security installations, and military command headquarters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that a temporary leadership council consisting of himself, the judiciary chief, and a Guardian Council representative had assumed Supreme Leader responsibilities.

Air raid warnings echoed throughout Israel late Sunday, including Tel Aviv where residents witnessed projectiles crossing the nighttime sky as Iran launched additional missile volleys.

The campaign’s first American fatalities were confirmed Sunday, with three service members killed. Two U.S. officials, requesting anonymity, informed Reuters the personnel died at a Kuwaiti military installation.

Trump honored the fallen soldiers as “true American patriots” while cautioning that additional casualties were likely. “That’s the way it is,” he stated.

A prolonged military operation could create significant political challenges for Trump’s Republican party before upcoming U.S. midterm elections that may determine Congressional control. Approximately one in four Americans support the operation, according to a Sunday Reuters/Ipsos survey.

In a Sunday video message, Trump pledged continued military action against Iran until “all our objectives are achieved” without specifying details. He claimed the offensive had eliminated Iran’s military leadership and destroyed nine Iranian naval vessels plus a naval facility.

U.S. military sources reported American aircraft and naval vessels had attacked over 1,000 Iranian targets since major combat operations began Saturday.

Trump addressed Iran’s military and police forces, including the influential Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, urging them to cease fighting while offering immunity for surrendering personnel and threatening “certain death” for those continuing resistance. He repeated appeals for Iranian citizens to overthrow their government.

“I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment, to be brave, be bold, be heroic and take back your country,” Trump declared in his recorded message. “America is with you.”

During interviews with various media organizations, Trump suggested the Iranian military campaign might continue for at least four weeks. White House representatives announced top administration officials would brief complete Senate and House memberships on Tuesday.

Following Khamenei’s death, Iran confronts a leadership crisis that could result in internal chaos, though the Trump administration has not revealed long-term objectives for the nation.

Breaking from his typical routine at his Mar-a-Lago Florida residence, Trump avoided speaking with traveling reporters. No administration representatives participated in Sunday political television programs.

The Trump administration seeks to prevent conflicting messages while officials continue internal policy discussions, according to a source familiar with the deliberations.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed Sunday they had struck three American and British oil tankers in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz while attacking Kuwaiti and Bahraini military bases with drones and missiles. Maritime data showed hundreds of vessels, including oil and gas tankers, anchoring in nearby waters as traders anticipated sharp crude oil price increases Monday.

International air travel faced severe disruptions as ongoing airstrikes forced major Middle Eastern airports to close, including Dubai — the world’s busiest international aviation hub — creating one of the largest aviation interruptions in recent years.

Oman’s foreign ministry reported Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had suggested Tehran remained open to reducing tensions. However, Araqchi’s social media posts indicated Iran’s readiness to continue fighting.

Long-term possibilities for Iran to reconstruct its leadership and replace 86-year-old Khamenei, who had governed since Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s 1989 death, remained uncertain.

Analysts suggested that while his death and other Iranian leaders’ deaths would severely impact Iran, it would not necessarily end Iran’s established clerical government or the elite Revolutionary Guards’ population control.

Nevertheless, predicting Iranian public response to these changes was premature. New Iranian social media analysis from Redpoint Advisors, a global intelligence company, indicates citizens are already considering Khamenei’s potential replacement.

In Nepal’s eastern region, crowds gather wherever Balendra Shah appears, eager for photos with the musician-turned-politician who has captured the nation’s attention.

Shah, widely known by his stage name Balen, has emerged as a leading figure in Nepal’s political landscape, representing the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party in a crucial March 5 election. The contest could dramatically alter the political dynamics of the mountainous country situated between China and India.

“I am here to see Balen, even though I have a fever,” declared a seven-year-old girl during her first encounter with the prime ministerial hopeful.

Standing nearby, a middle-aged woman revealed she had abandoned her cardiac appointment halfway through just to capture a photograph with Shah, the former Kathmandu mayor who entered national politics last September following unprecedented youth-driven demonstrations across the country.

Those protests, led by Generation Z activists frustrated with widespread government corruption and joblessness, resulted in 77 fatalities and ultimately forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli from office.

Now Shah is directly confronting the veteran politician in Oli’s stronghold – the Jhapa district where the 74-year-old has secured victory six consecutive times throughout his extensive political journey.

Should Shah and his party succeed, it would fundamentally transform Himalayan politics, which has long suffered from instability caused by the same established parties controlled by Oli and his contemporaries.

Political observers note widespread public frustration with traditional parties that have repeatedly held power but consistently failed to deliver meaningful results throughout Nepal.

The established political landscape includes Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist or UML), the Nepali Communist Party formed by former Maoist insurgents, and the moderate Nepali Congress – all of whom have alternated control for decades.

However, these organizations maintain pockets of support, particularly in mountainous regions like Kavrepalanchok, where 38-year-old voter Raju Rasaili observes the persistent political divisions.

“In my village, there are loyal supporters of both the Maoists and the CPN-UML. I don’t think people easily let go of that kind of political loyalty,” he explained.

Back in Damak town within Jhapa district, Bipana Oli – who shares no family connection with the former prime minister – returned from her job in Kuwait specifically to participate in Thursday’s voting.

“How long I continue working in Kuwait as a migrant worker will depend on Balen’s victory, and the policies and job opportunities he creates,” stated the 25-year-old.

Supporters swarm around Shah, each receiving approximately ten seconds with the candidate, who maintains his signature look of dark blazer and sunglasses.

Most visitors seek only photographs. Others manage brief handshakes or quick conversations until Shah’s official photographer intervenes with firm instructions: “Step aside, next in line.”

After resigning from his mayoral position and joining the RSP in January, Shah has conducted an intensive campaign across Nepal, visiting nearly 50 of the nation’s 77 districts.

His campaign style breaks traditional political norms completely.

Shah frequently drives himself, making unplanned stops to interact with merchants, agricultural workers, students, and other citizens, often catching them off guard, according to two campaign assistants.

During one journey through Kamal town in Jhapa, Shah unexpectedly halted his vehicle and entered a wedding celebration without invitation, greeting attendees before continuing his travels, campaign team member Surendra Bajgain recalled.

“It’s spontaneous, his actions are instinctive and not strategic,” Bajgain observed about Shah’s approach.

Departing further from conventional methods, Shah has mostly avoided traditional media outlets, instead leveraging social media platforms where he commands millions of followers to spread his political message.

“Campaigning is easy,” Shah mentioned to Reuters during a brief exchange.

“It was more challenging when I ran for mayor because I was alone and I did everything on my own. Now, I have a party and a team supporting me throughout.”

His support team includes a specialized group carrying laptops to campaign events, systematically recording citizen complaints, documenting incomplete projects from previous administrations, and identifying voter priorities.

These concerns undergo investigation and are compiled into manifesto-style “Promise Letters” that Shah’s organization distributes during campaign activities, explained Subhas Basnet, one of the documentation specialists.

Not every Jhapa voter fully embraces Shah’s unconventional approach.

Mahesh Rai, 35, spoke directly to the RSP candidate, recommending he adopt his opponent Oli’s strategy of personal, door-to-door campaigning.

“I think you earn votes when you visit people at their home,” Rai advised Shah, who listened attentively and acknowledged the suggestion with a simple: “Okay.”

Meanwhile, dust clouds from a convoy exceeding 20 vehicles, several equipped with flashing emergency signals, herald Oli’s arrival – a political mainstay since the 1990s.

In rural Gauriganj within Jhapa, organizers arrange a plastic table and chair in the village center for Oli’s use immediately upon his arrival. He performs traditional hand gestures of respect, maintaining a subtle smile.

Despite representing this district for decades, many constituents encounter Oli face-to-face for the first time, as the former leader adjusts his strategy to salvage his political future following September’s uprising damage.

“In previous elections, I did not always have the time to meet local residents personally,” Oli acknowledged to Reuters.

“This time, we have structured the campaign in a way that allows me to stay here and interact directly with people.”

Singheswar Prasad Rajbanshi, 85, expressed his disappointment frankly to Oli, whose journey began as a teenage activist who spent 14 years imprisoned before ascending to key ministerial positions and eventually the premiership.

“Many years ago, you came here seeking my vote while I was resting on my daybed. I supported you,” Rajbanshi confronted the former prime minister.

“But after that, I never saw you again until now.”

KATHMANDU, March 2 — The Himalayan nation of Nepal prepares for a crucial general election Thursday, following massive anti-corruption demonstrations that forced out the previous administration just months ago.

This landlocked country nestled in the mountains has struggled with governmental turmoil spanning multiple decades, witnessing 32 different administrations assume power since 1990 — remarkably, not a single one managed to serve out a complete five-year tenure.

The following timeline illustrates Nepal’s tumultuous political landscape:

ROYAL RULE ERA

Various royal dynasties governed Nepal until 1951, when the nation transitioned to parliamentary democratic rule.

Ten years afterward, King Mahendra dissolved the constitution and outlawed all political organizations. King Birendra, his successor, maintained absolute authority until 1990, when popular pressure transformed the absolute monarchy into a constitutional system.

During the 1991 and 1999 electoral cycles, the moderate Nepali Congress — the nation’s most established political organization — secured decisive majorities needed for governance, yet failed to complete either full term due to both internal divisions and conflicts between parties.

Political chaos ensued. A shocking 2001 royal palace attack claimed the lives of King Birendra and eight additional family members, carried out by Crown Prince Dipendra, who subsequently took his own life, official investigations determined.

Frustrated by unreliable political leaders and facing a strengthening Maoist rebellion in rural areas, King Birendra’s replacement, Gyanendra, seized direct control in 2005, but mass street demonstrations forced his removal within twelve months.

The Nepali Congress led a coalition government starting in 2006, maintaining power for two years.

REPUBLICAN TRANSFORMATION

During 2008, a specialized assembly controlled by former Maoist insurgents, who had entered legitimate politics through a peace agreement, decided to eliminate the 239-year monarchy.

The Communist Party of Nepal branch led by the former insurgents then assumed control, yet the republican transition failed to bring governmental stability.

Fifteen administrative changes have occurred subsequently, with authority rotating among the ex-Maoist rebel organization, the centrist Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), and the Nepali Congress.

A fresh constitution took effect in 2015, following more than seven years of work by two separate constitutional conventions. However, this development also proved insufficient for creating lasting governments.

The fragmented political environment created widespread citizen disengagement, strengthening public beliefs that Nepal’s dishonest political establishment showed little concern for average people — who rank among the world’s most economically disadvantaged.

This past September, a brewing digital anti-corruption campaign erupted into youth-driven street demonstrations that removed the administration headed by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli from the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki subsequently assumed temporary leadership responsibilities to supervise this week’s general election.

A suspected drone attack targeted a British military installation in Cyprus on Monday, according to reports from Sky News citing the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.

The incident occurred at RAF Akrotiri, located near the city of Limassol on the Mediterranean island. Officials confirmed that no personnel were injured during the attack on the Royal Air Force facility.

The Ministry of Defence has not released additional details about the nature of the strike or potential damage to the base.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will conduct high-level discussions with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday as part of an official state visit focused on strengthening partnerships in artificial intelligence and nuclear energy sectors.

The presidential meeting will include formal discussions between the two leaders, followed by a joint public statement and an official lunch, according to announcements from South Korea’s presidential Blue House.

Officials anticipate the summit will launch formal negotiations to enhance the current free trade agreement between the two nations, the Blue House reported.

Both countries plan to finalize five memorandums of understanding during the visit, addressing cooperation in artificial intelligence technology, small modular reactor development, and broader digital technology initiatives.

President Lee’s itinerary also includes participation in an artificial intelligence conference, a meeting with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and attendance at an official state dinner, presidential officials confirmed.

The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Saturday’s U.S.-Israeli military strike has not convinced American intelligence officials that Tehran’s government will collapse anytime soon, according to sources familiar with the situation.

While President Donald Trump and other administration figures have indicated that overthrowing Iran’s authoritarian leadership was among Washington’s objectives—alongside dismantling the country’s nuclear and missile capabilities—three intelligence officials tell Reuters they doubt Iran’s weakened opposition movement can bring down the theocratic system that has controlled the nation since 1979.

In a Truth Social video message Sunday, Trump appealed directly to Iranian citizens, stating: “I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment … and take back your country.”

However, American officials who spoke with Reuters say while they cannot entirely dismiss the possibility of governmental collapse—particularly given ongoing airstrikes that have eliminated key Iranian personnel and widespread public anger following January’s brutal crackdown on protesters—such an outcome remains unlikely in the immediate future.

Intelligence reports delivered to the White House before the military operation began warned that Khamenei’s elimination could simply result in his replacement by hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders or similarly extremist religious leaders, two sources revealed.

A White House official with access to internal discussions explained that IRGC leadership is unlikely to surrender voluntarily, partly because they have prospered under an extensive patronage system created to ensure loyalty within their ranks.

These CIA evaluations came after separate intelligence agency reporting that noted zero IRGC defections occurred during January’s massive anti-government demonstrations, which Iranian security forces crushed with extreme violence. According to three additional sources, such military defections would likely be essential for any successful revolutionary movement. These sources asked that their specific agency not be identified.

All sources interviewed for this report demanded anonymity when discussing classified intelligence materials.

Trump’s Sunday announcement that he intends to restart diplomatic contact with Iran suggests Washington expects the current government to remain in power, at least temporarily.

Neither the White House nor CIA provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

On Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that a temporary leadership committee consisting of himself, the judiciary chief, and a Guardian Council representative had assumed the Supreme Leader’s responsibilities.

Security official Ali Larijani condemned the United States and Israel for attempting to “plunder and disintegrate Iran” and threatened harsh retaliation against “secessionist groups” if they take action, according to state television reports Sunday. This followed the two nations’ aerial bombardment campaign against Iran, which allegedly included striking a girls’ elementary school. Reuters was unable to independently verify these state media claims.

American intelligence conversations about Khamenei’s potential elimination have extended beyond questions of leadership transition.

Two officials revealed that since January, agencies have engaged in substantial discussions—without reaching agreement—about whether Khamenei’s death might significantly alter Iran’s approach to nuclear program negotiations with Washington.

Intelligence personnel have also debated how much the Supreme Leader’s removal might discourage Iran from reconstructing its missile and nuclear infrastructure, according to these officials, who requested anonymity for discussing sensitive internal conversations.

After January’s protests, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special representative and close associate, held multiple conversations with Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, the former shah’s exiled son. This raised questions about potential American support for his installation should Iran’s government fall, two officials noted.

However, senior administration figures have grown increasingly doubtful in recent weeks that any Washington-backed opposition leader could realistically govern the country, these officials added.

Jonathan Panikoff, a former senior intelligence official now with Washington’s Atlantic Council think tank, explained the challenge: “At the end of the day, once U.S. and Israeli strikes stop, if the Iranian people come out, their success in promoting the end of the regime will depend on the rank and file standing aside or aligning with them.”

“Otherwise, the remnants of the regime, those with the weapons, are likely to use them to keep power,” Panikoff concluded.

When China’s real estate market collapsed under crushing debt, it left behind massive residential developments sitting mostly empty across the nation — including a sprawling complex called “Life in Venice” situated along China’s eastern shoreline.

Located just 90 minutes by car from the busy commercial center of Shanghai, this residential development drew its design inspiration from Italy’s famous floating city, complete with European-influenced artwork and structures linked by waterways and footbridges.

The development was originally marketed as Shanghai’s paradise, offering residents an upscale, peaceful resort-style experience near the ocean. However, real estate values began declining several years back, and by 2024, the project’s builder, Evergrande, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Now, “Life in Venice” resembles a deserted community overlooking the sea, with numerous housing units remaining vacant and unsold.

Real estate values in the area have dropped by more than 50 percent. Numerous villa properties stand empty, reduced to bare concrete and stone shells with their private boat slips sitting unused. A three-bedroom unit in the complex can now be leased for only 800 yuan, equivalent to $116 monthly.

These dramatically reduced costs are attracting individuals looking for a relaxed, budget-friendly lifestyle and an alternative to the intense competition found in China’s largest urban centers.

Several small markets, dining establishments, and a postal service center provide basic necessities for those who have decided to relocate to the area.

During winter months, the development remains mostly peaceful as its inhabitants embrace a more leisurely way of life. Some residents can be seen fishing beside a deflated inflatable duck. Children’s garments hang on lines in common areas. A solitary figure rocks back and forth on a beach swing, looking toward an unused dock extending into the water.

In a sprawling, mostly empty development called “Life in Venice” along China’s coast, a multibillion-dollar recreation of the famous Italian city sits largely deserted. Thousands upon thousands of residential units remain nothing more than concrete and stone shells.

Yet this remote, half-abandoned project has attracted unexpected new inhabitants like Sasa Chen, a former finance worker who walked away from her demanding job in Shanghai’s fast-paced business district.

What drew her there?

Chen spends only 1,200 RMB monthly – roughly $168 – for her unit in this artificial Venice located in Jiangsu province. The incredibly low cost has enabled Chen to step away from working life entirely at just 28 years old.

According to analysts, Chen represents a growing movement of young Chinese citizens relocating to smaller communities and towns, capitalizing on rock-bottom property values that have been dropping dramatically since the COVID-19 outbreak.

This represents a complete shift from earlier generations who valued climbing the social ladder. For decades, China’s emerging middle class rushed to thriving metropolitan areas seeking employment and opportunities that were plentiful as the nation experienced rapid economic growth. However, as the previously booming economy has slowed down, expectations have risen while prospects have shrunk and rivalry has intensified.

The majority of major Chinese corporations, particularly well-paying technology companies, demand employees work from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday – an exhausting routine commonly called the 996 culture. Facing this relentless pressure, some young workers have abandoned their careers entirely, joining a protest movement known as “lying flat” – rejecting traditional career paths and consumer culture in favor of a “low-desire lifestyle.”

Many are reshaping their aspirations to prioritize rest and leisure, similar to what young people in Western countries pursue through FIRE: “Financial Independence, Retire Early.”

This goal is much more attainable in China due to extremely low living expenses in certain areas compared to Western costs.

Property values at the enormous “Life in Venice” complex have dropped by more than half since China’s real estate market declined several years ago, and a meal of noodles or rice at local restaurants costs less than three dollars.

These rock-bottom prices have helped young people like Chen who are willing to relocate to isolated but affordable housing now accessible throughout the nation. Chen calls it an ideal existence: ocean views, fresh air, and minimal rent.

“I have all the time in the world, the freedom of doing whatever I want,” said Chen. “I am living the life that I want.”

“Life in Venice” was originally conceived in the early 2010s as a vacation destination for affluent Shanghai residents, offering an upscale yet serene seaside lifestyle.

However, interest in the enormous development’s 46,000 housing units collapsed when China’s debt-driven real estate bubble burst. The construction company, property giant Evergrande, filed for bankruptcy in 2024.

The location now resembles a ghost town, with numerous villas standing as empty frameworks. Fewer than 20% of units have residents. Deserted vessels sit deteriorating at the crumbling dock while “For Sale” notices and vacant storefronts fill the streets. Still, a small number of residents have settled there, with some fishing in the development’s peaceful waters.

Chen previously worked in a gleaming Shanghai office tower, earning as much as 700,000 yuan ($98,480) annually at a major financial company. However, she had always disliked the concept of traditional employment. After three years, she started planning her exit from China’s demanding white-collar work environment.

Her strategy involved accumulating savings and locating housing with rent so minimal she could survive on investment returns alone.

Her goal became reality last year: Chen accumulated 2 million yuan ($290,000) and secured a large apartment at “Life in Venice.” With such minimal rent, she believes she can remain there permanently without returning to work.

While “Life in Venice” lacks her preferred sour soup hotpot restaurant, home delivery services, or nearby major medical facilities, her new home offers basic amenities including a market and dining options.

Chen once dreaded her demanding nine-to-six schedule, which she described as feeling “like marching to my own death.” Currently, she rises at 10 a.m. daily, spending her time preparing meals, relaxing, and taking extended beach walks.

“I never believed that work is the meaning of life,” Chen said. “My ideal state of life is not to work and stay at places that I like.”

Similar to Chen, numerous young Chinese individuals have departed major urban centers.

Although specific data about workforce departures isn’t available, statistics indicate that between 2019 and 2024, Beijing lost 1.6 million residents in their twenties and early thirties – equivalent to Philadelphia’s entire population – based on the capital’s statistical office records.

“People are quitting this competition, this very clear, linear, upward career track,” said Xiang Biao, director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany. “It’s a broader trend.”

China’s economic growth has decelerated recently, expanding just 5% in 2025 – still exceeding the U.S. and other developed nations, but far below the double-digit expansion the country previously experienced.

With the slowing economy, young Chinese face employment challenges. By December, 16.5% of 16-24 year-olds not attending school were jobless.

Others, including 29-year-old Ban Zhao, are completely abandoning corporate competition.

Last summer, Ban relocated from a busy commercial city on China’s eastern coastline to a small community in southwestern Yunnan province. Nestled in a green valley, the town is known for pure air and therapeutic hot springs. There, Ban pays just 800 yuan monthly ($110) for a three-bedroom apartment, converting one room into a yoga studio.

She and her partner work fewer than 20 hours weekly, teaching online yoga classes for income. Otherwise, she explores her beautiful tree-lined neighborhood filled with flowers, frequently enjoying the area’s famous sunshine.

“I can do whatever I want and not do whatever I don’t want,” Ban said. “I live in heaven.”

Some are moving to locations like Hegang, a frigid and isolated coal mining community in northeastern China known for incredibly affordable housing. As natural resources were depleted and mines shut down, young residents departed, leaving Hegang with far more homes than inhabitants.

Units there now cost less than automobiles, making sales simple for real estate agent Yang Xuewei.

Yang has sold over 100 discount apartments to buyers nationwide – including some international clients who contacted Yang after viewing his online property tours. A single-bedroom unit sells for $3,000, while $13,000 purchases a spacious four-bedroom home.

“I don’t know about big cities, I never lived in one,” Yang said. “I can only say that living in Hegang is easy.”

Chen Zhiwu, a University of Hong Kong finance professor, explained that increased living expenses and reduced employment options in larger cities are pushing people toward more affordable locations.

“It’s natural,” Chen said. “Young people are facing reality and thinking hard about their futures.”