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Two civilians lost their lives and over 20 others sustained injuries during Monday’s Russian military strikes targeting multiple Ukrainian regions, according to local government officials.

In the Poltava region of central Ukraine, debris from destroyed drones resulted in one death and three injuries while causing significant damage to a residential high-rise building, regional governor Vitaliy Diakivnych announced via Telegram.

The neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region experienced both drone assaults and artillery bombardments that claimed one life near Nikopol, Regional Governor Oleksandr Ganzha reported on Telegram. The attacks wounded two residents in Nikopol itself and an additional 12 people across the broader region.

In the northern Sumy region along the Russian border, Moscow’s forces deployed glide bombs in two separate strikes that wounded 13 individuals, including a 6-year-old child, according to regional governor Oleh Hryhorov. The bombardment damaged 15 residential properties.

High-ranking Russian military commanders have previously stated their intention to establish buffer zones within both Sumy and the neighboring northeastern Kharkiv region.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm these reports.

President Donald Trump issued stark warnings Monday about potential attacks on Iran’s critical water and energy infrastructure, including facilities that produce drinking water from seawater. Military experts caution that such actions could spark a humanitarian crisis throughout the drought-stricken Middle East region.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump declared that unless a peace agreement emerges “shortly” and the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane reopens immediately, “we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched.’”

Security analysts express greater concern about potential Iranian counter-attacks than Trump’s initial threats. While Iran depends minimally on desalinated water, neighboring Gulf nations rely on these facilities for most of their freshwater supply.

Dozens of water treatment facilities line the Persian Gulf shoreline, placing systems that serve millions of residents within striking distance of Iranian rockets and unmanned aircraft. Major metropolitan areas including Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, plus Qatar’s capital Doha, could not maintain their current population levels without these installations.

“Desalination facilities are oftentimes necessary for the survival of the civilian population and intentional destruction of those types of facilities is a war crime,” stated Niku Jafarnia, who conducts research for Human Rights Watch.

Iran faces its fifth consecutive year of severe drought conditions, with some domestic news outlets reporting that water storage facilities serving Tehran hold less than 10% of normal capacity. Satellite imagery examined by The Associated Press confirms significantly reduced reservoir levels. The nation continues to depend primarily on rivers, lakes and declining underground water sources.

Israeli air attacks on March 7 targeted fuel storage sites around Tehran, creating thick smoke and acidic precipitation. Specialists cautioned that contamination could affect soil and portions of the city’s water infrastructure.

“Attacking water facilities, even one, could end up being harmful to the population in such a severe water scarcity context,” Jafarnia explained.

Prior to the military conflict that Israel and the United States initiated on February 28, Iran had been working rapidly to build more desalination capacity along its southern coastline and transport treated water to interior regions. However, infrastructure limitations, power costs and international economic restrictions have severely hampered expansion efforts.

Kuwait obtains approximately 90% of its drinking water through desalination, while Oman relies on the technology for roughly 86% and Saudi Arabia for about 70%. The process eliminates salt from ocean water, typically by forcing it through extremely fine filters using reverse osmosis technology, creating the freshwater that supports cities, tourism, manufacturing and some farming in one of Earth’s most arid regions.

Even facilities connected to national power networks with alternative supply options face risks of cascading failures across linked systems, according to David Michel, who serves as senior fellow for water security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“It’s an asymmetrical tactic,” he noted. “Iran doesn’t have the same capacity to strike back … But it does have this possibility to impose costs on the Gulf countries to push them to intervene or call for a cessation of hostilities.”

Water treatment plants contain numerous components including intake structures, processing equipment and power sources, with disruption to any element capable of halting operations, explained Ed Cullinane, Middle East editor at Global Water Intelligence, an industry publication.

“None of these assets are any more protected than any of the municipal areas that are currently being hit by ballistic missiles or drones,” Cullinane observed.

The Gulf region exports roughly one-third of global crude oil, with energy sales forming the foundation of national economies. Combat operations have already stopped tanker movement through vital shipping channels and interrupted port operations, compelling some producers to reduce exports as storage facilities reach capacity.

“Everyone thinks of Saudi Arabia and their neighbors as petrostates. But I call them saltwater kingdoms. They’re human-made fossil-fueled water superpowers,” said Michael Christopher Low, who directs the Middle East Center at the University of Utah. “It’s both a monumental achievement of the 20th century and a certain kind of vulnerability.”

Trump’s statements came amid escalating violence, with Tehran attacking a major water and power facility in Kuwait and an Israeli oil processing plant coming under fire, while American and Israeli military units launched fresh strikes against Iran.

A 2010 Central Intelligence Agency assessment cautioned that strikes on desalination infrastructure could create national emergencies in multiple Gulf states, with extended outages potentially lasting months if essential equipment suffered damage. The document noted that over 90% of the Gulf’s desalinated water originates from just 56 facilities, stating that “each of these critical plants is extremely vulnerable to sabotage or military action.”

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have constructed pipeline systems, water storage facilities and other backup measures intended to provide protection during brief interruptions. However, smaller nations including Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait maintain fewer reserve supplies.

Desalination expansion has accelerated partly because climate change is worsening drought conditions throughout the region. The facilities themselves consume enormous amounts of energy and produce substantial carbon emissions, while their coastal positions leave them exposed to severe weather and ocean level increases.

During Iraq’s 1990-1991 occupation of Kuwait, withdrawing Iraqi military units sabotaged electrical stations and water treatment plants, Low recalled, while millions of barrels of petroleum were intentionally spilled into the Persian Gulf, threatening seawater intake systems used by desalination facilities across the area.

Emergency crews worked quickly to position protective barriers around intake valves at major installations, but the damage left Kuwait mostly without fresh water and reliant on emergency water shipments. Complete restoration required several years.

In recent years, Yemen’s Iran-supported Houthi forces have attacked Saudi desalination installations as regional tensions increased.

International humanitarian law, including sections of the Geneva Conventions, forbids attacking civilian infrastructure essential to population survival, including drinking water systems.

Australia’s internet safety watchdog announced Tuesday it is examining five major social media companies for possible violations of the nation’s pioneering law prohibiting users under age 16 from accessing their platforms.

The investigation represents the government’s first public review of how well companies are following the groundbreaking legislation, which is drawing attention from lawmakers worldwide. Poor enforcement could weaken support for similar age restrictions being considered by other governments.

Julie Inman Grant, who leads the eSafety Commission, identified Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, along with Snapchat, TikTok and Google’s YouTube as the platforms under scrutiny. Her agency is collecting evidence for potential penalties against these companies.

“While social media platforms have taken some initial action, I am concerned through our compliance monitoring that some may not be doing enough to comply with Australian law,” Inman Grant stated.

“We are now moving into an enforcement stance,” she continued.

The Australian legislation allows regulators to impose penalties reaching A$49.5 million (approximately $34 million) on companies that fail to comply. Officials noted Tuesday that violating platforms also risk significant damage to their public reputation.

The safety commission discovered significant shortcomings in how platforms are implementing the youth ban. These include asking children who previously indicated they were under 16 to verify their age again, permitting multiple attempts at age verification until users achieve a result showing they’re over 16, inadequate systems for reporting underage accounts, and weak protections against new sign-ups by minors.

Each platform has received notification about specific problems and expectations for addressing these issues, according to the regulator.

TikTok refused to provide comment on the investigation, while representatives from Meta, Snap and Google did not respond immediately to requests for statements.

Israel’s legislative body voted Monday to enact capital punishment for individuals who commit deadly terrorist attacks, with lawmakers approving the controversial measure by a margin of 62 to 48 votes despite significant political opposition and pressure from international allies.

The bill, which completed its second and third readings on March 30, 2026, establishes that “a terrorist who intentionally caused the death of a person as part of a terrorist act – his sentence is death.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast his vote supporting the measure, even though the bill was expected to secure enough votes without his backing. The opposition Israel Beiteinu party supported the legislation, while United Torah Judaism, a member of the governing coalition, opposed it. Following the vote, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who helped initiate the proposal, declared: “We are making history.”

Under the new statute, capital punishment becomes required in specific circumstances and eliminates the need for judges to reach a unanimous verdict. The law specifies that the Israel Prison Service will conduct executions by hanging within 90 days, with no option for presidential clemency.

Government sources indicated the statute will face review by the High Court of Justice.

Legal scholars have identified several constitutional concerns, including the automatic nature of the death sentence and clauses preventing pardons, along with disparities in how the law applies to Israeli citizens versus cases in the West Bank.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the legislation, stating: “This law will not lead to a single execution. Not in Gaza, not in Judea and Samaria, not of terrorists, and not of anyone else. It is deliberately written without filters and without balances, for one purpose only: to ensure that it will be struck down.”

According to N12 news, high-ranking European officials conducted emergency discussions with Israeli representatives in an attempt to block the legislation, threatening potential sanctions and the suspension of trade deals, technological partnerships, scientific collaboration, and diplomatic relations.

Yemen’s Houthi forces fired their first ballistic missiles directly at Tel Aviv since the October ceasefire ended, launching attacks in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 28, 2026. A follow-up operation occurred Sunday, March 29, with the group using drones and cruise missiles to target what they called strategic locations in Eilat.

The attacks occurred one month into the US-Israel conflict with Iran and have heightened concerns about potential closure of international shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis announced their participation in the conflict as part of the “axis of resistance,” but Yemen’s unstable internal conditions could face serious repercussions. Peace negotiations with Saudi Arabia that were nearly finalized are now in jeopardy, potentially triggering new international responses that could further devastate the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

Mohammed Salem, using a pseudonym and working with Houthi war media, explained that these operations were carefully planned strategic moves rather than impulsive actions. “The military wing has studied the situation closely since the first day of the regional war,” he stated, explaining that joining the conflict represents “a response to the will of the Yemeni people and a national and religious duty to support the resistance in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran.”

Salem emphasized that the Houthis aren’t using these attacks as negotiating leverage to secure better terms, describing them as part of their ongoing campaign against what he called the Zionist and American enemy. He noted that Yemen now controls significant military resources, positioning it among major regional powers, and cautioned that “the coming days will reveal many surprises that will astonish the world, as we are still in an escalating phase until the aggression stops on all fronts.”

The cross-border attacks have created a sharp division within Yemeni society, going beyond military and political considerations. This split demonstrates vastly different views of the current crisis—with supporters believing the escalation restores national pride, while critics worry it will destroy the nation’s final opportunities for survival.

Mohammed, a young Sanaa resident who backs the Houthis’ actions, spoke enthusiastically to The Media Line about the Tel Aviv strikes representing a pivotal moment that restored Yemen’s international position.

He maintained that Yemenis—previously relegated to being seen as a “forgotten civil war”—have proven they cannot be overlooked in regional politics. Speaking boldly, he dismissed concerns about potential Israeli or American retaliation, asking what more a population devastated by years of blockade and poverty could possibly lose. He argued that “dying with dignity” through direct confrontation is better than “a slow death” while depending on limited humanitarian assistance, calling the expected sacrifices “an inevitable price for freedom and dignity.”

However, strong opposition voices are emerging elsewhere. Badri Saleh, who lives in al-Jawf governorate, characterized the military involvement as dangerous gambling that leads the nation toward “collective suicide” to serve foreign interests.

He expressed regret over the missed opportunity for a significant peace agreement with Saudi Arabia—which was nearly completed—that could have reduced domestic hardship. Instead, he argued, the missile attacks have undermined political progress “to satisfy Tehran.”

Saleh’s worries go beyond political breakdown to include fears of extensive infrastructure destruction, warning that a strong international response could hit ports and airports, driving the country into “economic paralysis” with no clear way out.

Abdulsalam Mohammed, who leads Abaad Studies & Research Center, described what he called substantial military preparation by the Houthis. He reported that the Houthis currently control 200 missile launch locations strategically placed throughout Saadah, Hodeidah, al-Jawf, and Taiz, plus 300 drones, including large suicide drone models appearing in combat for the first time.

He also highlighted a major change in naval operations, mentioning an “underwater base” with unmanned submarines, along with launch sites for explosive boats in as-Salif and Hodeidah. These capabilities are backed by secret manufacturing and development facilities built inside mountain tunnels in Sa’dah.

Mohammed additionally claimed that approximately 2,000 foreign specialists—primarily former Syrian army officers and Hezbollah and Iraqi armed group members—are managing technical operations. He stated that strategic planning and advanced operational coordination remain connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard command center, while the local group focuses on mobilization and field implementation.

Military affairs analyst and journalist Adnan al-Jabarni rejected the notion that the armed intervention is simply reactive. In analysis posted on X, he argued the Houthis intentionally started their direct involvement by attacking Tel Aviv to accomplish strategic goals—primarily to trigger a direct Israeli response. This approach, he contended, establishes the group as a major player in the conflict while reducing perceptions of complete tactical reliance on Iran.

Al-Jabarni noted that the Houthis are following a “gradual entry” strategy based on “axis of resistance” requirements.

If Iran’s current goals involve wearing down Israeli defenses and causing direct harm, the emphasis will continue on Israeli territory. However, if objectives change toward applying political and economic pressure on the US administration—especially to complicate President Donald Trump’s strategic calculations—then efforts might shift toward limiting navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and potentially attacking regional military installations under sovereignty claims to expand the pressure campaign.

He concluded that if the Axis fully commits to this confrontation, especially during perceived weakness or distraction in Tehran, the region might face an extended conflict with a definitive result—either favorable or unfavorable to them.

As missiles illuminate regional skies, Yemen finds itself once more at the heart of a historic crisis that has continued for decades. From internal mountain conflicts to open maritime confrontations, the nation has transformed into a global battleground for rival powers. While the international community monitors the straits and shipping lanes, average Yemenis remain trapped between hopes of reconstructing their homeland and the reality of international conflicts.

Professional entertainers in full makeup and bright red noses took their concerns to the streets of Bolivia’s capital city Monday, rallying against a new educational policy that threatens to eliminate their primary source of income.

The colorfully dressed performers assembled outside La Paz’s Ministry of Education building to voice opposition to regulations implemented in February. The new rules require educational institutions to dedicate 200 full days annually to academic instruction, essentially prohibiting the special celebrations and events where these entertainers typically find work.

Wilder Ramírez, who represents the local performers’ union and performs under the stage name Zapallito, expressed concerns about the financial impact. “This decree will economically affect all of us who work with children,” Ramírez told reporters. He emphasized that “children need to laugh” while fellow performers questioned whether Bolivia’s Education Minister had experienced a proper childhood.

These professional entertainers regularly provide services at educational institutions throughout Bolivia, performing during school celebrations and special occasions that break up the regular academic routine. An important upcoming celebration is the nation’s Children’s Day observance on April 12.

The policy comes from recently elected President Rodrigo Paz’s administration, which states that festive activities will no longer receive approval during regular academic hours, though schools may choose to organize such events on weekends. Administrative officials indicated they would consider the entertainers’ concerns when developing policies for the 2027 academic year.

However, these future promises offered little comfort to Monday’s demonstrators.

“This decree will diminish our income, and with the economic crisis the country is going through, our future looks increasingly gloomy,” stated Elías Gutiérrez, representing the Confederation of Artisanal Workers of Bolivia.

The South American nation faces severe economic challenges as natural gas revenues continue declining due to reduced production levels, while U.S. currency shortages drive up import costs for the landlocked country.

The demonstration included additional workers whose livelihoods depend on school events, including seamstresses who create costumes for children’s performances and photographers who document educational celebrations.

The coalition of affected workers paraded through downtown La Paz, using whistles and small pyrotechnics to draw attention to their cause.

One demonstrator displayed a sign accusing government officials of “taking away smiles, and taking work away.”

WASHINGTON — Middle Eastern partners of the United States are privately pressing President Donald Trump to maintain military operations against Iran, contending that Tehran remains insufficiently weakened after weeks of U.S.-led airstrikes, sources from American, Gulf, and Israeli governments report.

Following initial behind-the-scenes complaints that they received insufficient warning about the U.S.-Israeli offensive and concerns about regional devastation, several allied nations now view this moment as a unique chance to permanently undermine Iran’s religious government.

Representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain have privately expressed their desire for military actions to continue until Iran’s leadership undergoes major changes or dramatically alters its conduct, according to officials speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for public statements.

This regional pressure emerges as Trump wavers between declaring Iran’s weakened leadership ready for negotiations and threatening escalation if agreements aren’t reached quickly.

Meanwhile, Trump faces challenges building domestic support for a conflict that has claimed over 3,000 lives throughout the Middle East and disrupted global economic stability. However, the president appears increasingly confident about backing from key regional partners who initially showed reluctance about renewed military action.

“Saudi Arabia’s fighting back hard. Qatar is fighting back. UAE is fighting back. Kuwait’s fighting back. Bahrain’s fighting back,” Trump stated to reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday evening during his return flight to Washington from Florida. “They’re all fighting back.”

These Gulf nations provide hosting facilities for American forces and military bases used for launching Iranian strikes, though they haven’t participated directly in offensive operations.

Although regional leadership generally supports current U.S. actions, one Gulf diplomatic source noted internal disagreements, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE spearheading calls for intensified military pressure against Tehran.

The UAE has positioned itself as potentially the most aggressive among Gulf states, strongly advocating for Trump to authorize ground invasion operations, the diplomat revealed. Kuwait and Bahrain also support this approach. The UAE, having endured over 2,300 missile and drone strikes from Iran, grows increasingly frustrated as ongoing warfare threatens its reputation as the region’s secure, pristine commercial and tourism center.

Conversely, Oman and Qatar, traditionally serving as mediators between economically isolated Iran and Western nations, prefer diplomatic resolution.

The diplomat indicated Saudi Arabia has argued to American officials that concluding warfare prematurely won’t achieve a “good deal” ensuring security for Iran’s Arab neighbors.

Saudi demands for any eventual settlement include neutralizing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, eliminating ballistic missile systems, ending Tehran’s proxy group support, and preventing future Islamic Republic shutdowns of the Strait of Hormuz as occurred during this conflict. Approximately 20% of global oil previously flowed through this waterway.

Accomplishing these objectives would require dramatic policy reversals by the theocratic government controlling the country since 1979’s Islamic Revolution or complete regime change.

Senior Emirati officials have adopted increasingly direct language regarding Iran.

“An Iranian regime that launches ballistic missiles at homes, weaponizes global trade and supports proxies is no longer an acceptable feature of the regional landscape,” wrote Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Foreign Ministry minister of state, in Monday’s column for state-affiliated English publication The National. She continued: “We want a guarantee that this will never happen again.”

The White House refused comment regarding Gulf ally consultations. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized Monday that America and Gulf Arab partners share unified views about Iran.

“They are religious zealots who can never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon because they have an apocalyptic vision of the future,” Rubio said about Iran during his ABC “Good Morning America” appearance. “And all of their neighbors know that, by the way, which is why all of their neighbors have been supportive of the efforts we’re conducting.”

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s effective ruler, has informed White House officials that further reducing Iran’s military capabilities and clerical leadership benefits long-term Gulf regional interests and beyond, according to someone briefed on these discussions.

Nevertheless, Saudis remain concerned that prolonged conflict provides Iran additional opportunities for striking the kingdom’s energy infrastructure, which forms the foundation of its oil-dependent economy.

A Saudi government representative emphasized the kingdom ultimately seeks political crisis resolution, but immediate priorities focus on protecting citizens and essential infrastructure.

Trump recently highlighted most Gulf countries’ unified support for his administration’s war prosecution, praising their crisis solidarity while criticizing NATO allies for refusing to join American efforts.

Friday brought Trump’s praise for Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, commending their “bravery” throughout the conflict.

Speaking at a Miami event sponsored by Saudi sovereign wealth funds, the president offered particular acclaim for the Saudi crown prince, describing him as a “warrior” and “fantastic man.”

Trump also acknowledged Gulf countries’ initial hesitation about his and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war decision, but noted their subsequent rallying.

“They weren’t thinking this was going to happen, nobody was,” Trump said, referencing Iran’s thousands of retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region. “And they turned against them and really became very powerfully aligned. And they were with us, but they weren’t with us very obliquely. They were with us.”

Trump has not yet requested Gulf nations’ participation in offensive operations.

One consideration may involve administrative calculations that additional militaries beyond Israel would create unnecessary complications in crowded airspace.

Three American fighter aircraft were accidentally shot down by friendly Kuwaiti forces during initial conflict days amid Iranian aerial assault. All six crew members successfully ejected from the F-15E Strike Eagles.

Additionally, six American service members died March 12 when their KC-135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq.

Another complication involves only UAE and Bahrain maintaining formal diplomatic relationships with Israel among Gulf states, adding complexity to their strategic considerations, notes Yasmine Farouk, International Crisis Group’s Gulf and Arabian Peninsula project director.

However, Iran has threatened attacks on neighbors’ critical infrastructure, including desalination facilities providing regional drinking water, should Trump execute his threat against Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened by April 6.

“The absence of a clear objective, the absence of the trust that the United States is really going to go until the end and finish the jobs … it’s making some of them reluctant,” Farouk explained. “But if there is a consequential or mass casualty (event) in one of those countries, then it would be justified for them to become a belligerent.”

Americans with connections to Israel are facing unprecedented travel disruptions as ongoing conflict forces the cancellation of holiday plans and family celebrations. Flight restrictions and war-related chaos have left travelers scrambling for alternative routes or abandoning trips altogether.

Lily Feinstein, a 20-year-old Dallas student at Reichman University in Herzliya, managed to return home through a grueling journey via Egypt and Greece. “My biggest fear throughout the whole war was getting stuck outside of the country rather than in the country,” said Feinstein, who is studying communications and marketing. “There was never a moment where I felt scared or something was going to happen to me. But rather, if I had to leave, what was going to happen then?”

Despite her concerns, Feinstein departed Israel as Passover approached and her family awaited her arrival for the Seder. After multiple El Al flight cancellations, she chose an unconventional route. “I had a couple of flights booked with El Al. My flights kept getting canceled,” she explained. While flights continued operating from Ben-Gurion Airport, options remained extremely limited, and each new reservation carried risks of being stranded during transit. “I just didn’t want to risk booking another flight and maybe getting stuck again. I just made the decision to go through Egypt.”

Her experience at Cairo’s airport highlighted the current travel crisis affecting Israel-bound passengers. “It was an experience for sure. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it,” Feinstein noted. “It’s not a good feeling when you don’t have the IDF behind you, and you’re alone.”

She described an airport terminal overwhelmed with Jewish travelers attempting to exit the region. “There was nobody else in the airport there. It was literally just Jews. There was not even one Egyptian person in the airport other than the staff and security, but it was chaos. Lines at the door. Their airport’s not equipped to handle what they’re doing.”

Tziril Yurman, who grew up in Israel until age 27 and currently resides on New York City’s Upper East Side working in nursing home admissions and marketing, faced her own disappointment when her March 25 El Al flight to spend Passover with elderly parents in Jerusalem was cancelled at 6 pm.

“Complete and utter devastation,” Yurman described her initial reaction. “I felt like I could not get home. I grew up there. But besides that, it’s home for every Jew, and I still feel stranded.” Having traveled without issues during COVID and following October 7, this situation felt different. “This is the first time where an Israeli, a Jew, who’s holding an Israeli passport, cannot get home.”

Instead of Jerusalem, she will attend a large Passover program in Cancun, Mexico, with her sister, joining over 1,500 participants. Security concerns weigh heavily on her mind, as tourist destinations are “definitely being looked at.” Event organizers have increased escorts and patrols, though she couldn’t confirm whether costs have risen accordingly.

California attorney and mother Melissa Cohen experienced her own devastating disruption. Cohen had spent over a year organizing what she called “the trip of a lifetime” to Israel for her middle daughter Alexa’s bat mitzvah celebration. “We actually hadn’t, I hadn’t been to Israel in over 30 years before last year for our spring break,” she shared. Having previously visited as a Houston teenager with her Jewish community and for her brother’s bar mitzvah, she felt an urgent need to return following October 7.

With Israel “being vilified for everything” in media coverage and Gaza war headlines dominating news, Cohen and her husband decided to show their daughters the country firsthand. “We wanted to take our family for the first time last year, so that we could see for ourselves, so that we could be there, so that we could support Israel, and give our tourism dollars to Israel, and give our children a sense of connection,” she explained. Their spring break trip succeeded: “All of my girls, 16, 12, and 10, fell in love with the country, and felt so connected.”

Upon departing Israel last year, they immediately began planning their bat mitzvah return. “Before we touched down on American soil, we sent a note to all of our friends saying next year in Jerusalem,” Cohen recalled. This trip was designed around joy and normalcy: Tel Aviv beaches, desert excursions, Bedouin tent experiences, and culminating with a bat mitzvah ceremony at the Western Wall. “This was really going to be the trip of a lifetime, in a way,” she said. “Being there with all of these people together, our family and friends traveling together, having one experience together, might not ever happen again.”

Then conflict with Iran escalated. As Israel’s military operations intensified and missiles were exchanged, authorities imposed strict limitations at Ben-Gurion airport: only one departure flight per hour to limited destinations like Athens and New York, with just 50 passengers permitted on any aircraft leaving Tel Aviv. “The vast majority of future bookings, both incoming and outgoing, has ground to a halt,” explained Mark Feldman, CEO of Ziontours Jerusalem, describing a tourism sector “paralyzed by uncertainty.” Tens of thousands of Israelis remain stranded overseas, primarily in North America and the Far East, while organized missions and group tours have virtually disappeared.

Cohen monitored these developments with increasing anxiety. “Starting with the moment we attacked Iran,” she said, “I thought, OK, well, this will be just like the 12‑day war last year. They’re even weaker than they were then, and this should be over soon, and this is good news, because this gives us time … and we’re good to go.” However, each passing day diminished that optimism. She and approximately 40 relatives and friends traveling from Houston, California, New York and Boston experienced what she describes as “whiplash”—alternating between thinking “maybe this is going to happen” and “there’s not a chance.”

Ultimately, airlines made the decision for them. As international carriers suspended Israel routes and remaining seats vanished, Cohen watched her meticulously planned celebration collapse. “They canceled flights, and then it just became very clear, I would say, seven, maybe 10 days ago, it became very clear that this was not going to happen,” she said. Passover and Easter itineraries like hers, typically booked a year in advance, “have crumbled,” Feldman observed, either because airlines ceased operations or “because they have chosen not to be in Israel during a war.”

Despite the chaos, Yurman shares Cohen’s commitment to supporting Israel. “Support the Jewish economy, the Jewish Israeli economy,” she urged. “Support any Israeli thing, anything you can, if it’s something online.” She purchases flowers and gifts for family there, encouraging visitors to buy locally—falafel, ice cream, or larger items—to help stores and tourism recover.

Financial consequences have varied. Cohen’s tour guide confirmed hotel reservations were refundable, providing rare relief. However, her attempt to save on airfare through a third-party ticket agency backfired. “That is not refundable,” she said. Rather than receiving straightforward airline credit, the company imposed “a $400 processing fee, plus a $300 commission fee on each ticket that they’re going to take.” Reflecting on the experience, she acknowledged, “In retrospect, I probably should have just gone directly through United. … I was overly confident that nothing was going to happen.”

Cohen’s miscalculation reflects broader assumptions that Israel’s skies had cleared. “Since the war last year in the summer, everything has been great,” she said. Tourism had surged, hotels required seven-night minimum stays over Passover, and prices climbed sharply as if the crisis had passed. It appeared the country had moved forward and tourists were no longer afraid to visit.

Currently, much of the travel system remains paralyzed. Feldman reports the government has provided no direct assistance, while the “one flight an hour” restriction leaves countless travelers with “no ability” to return home. Arkia, one of Israel’s domestic carriers, now operates solely from JFK to Larnaca, Cyprus, due to landing slot shortages. The US Embassy is transporting American citizens by bus to Amman’s airport in Jordan. “Short of a death certificate or a highlevel El Al frequent flier number, just getting out this week is almost a miracle,” Feldman said.

Feldman noted instances of price gouging amid the chaos: El Al’s $999 NYC economy tickets sell out immediately, with “finding space more than one or two days in advance … not possible,” while Amman’s Royal Jordanian charges $2,900 one-way to JFK, “way more than their normal fare.” Oil price spikes from the war haven’t yet impacted costs, but “will affect future ticket prices, when the system reboots,” he added.

Alternative routes used by Feinstein and others—through Egypt, Jordan, and Cyprus—have become essential lifelines. Foreign journalists enter Israel via land crossings, and Feldman reported “zero reports of any problems (other than a request for tips).”

However, these lifelines are becoming more expensive. At the Taba crossing into Egypt, fees on the Egyptian side have increased again as more stranded travelers use the route to reach connecting flights from Taba or Sharm el-Sheikh. Ynet reported on March 28 that new notices at the crossing announced that starting at March’s end, payments would only be accepted in US dollars, with costs for travelers continuing beyond the first kilometer rising to approximately $120 per person, up from the $60 fee mentioned in recent US Embassy Jerusalem travel advisories. An updated embassy alert on March 27 recommended travelers carry at least $115 cash per person, indicating how quickly this improvised exit route has become both more expensive and complicated.

Even so, the route offers little comfort. Feinstein said she “definitely felt safer in Israel” than in an Egyptian airport crowded with anxious passengers. She is now heading to Florida to meet her family and already worries about her return journey. “I don’t want to have to go through Egypt or Jordan again,” she said. “I’m hoping I don’t have to do that again.”

Yurman plans to return immediately after Passover, regardless of obstacles. “Without a question,” she said.

Cancellations have altered sacred family milestones. Rather than celebrating in Jerusalem at the Kotel, Cohen will now celebrate her daughter’s bat mitzvah at home. “I’ve spent the past week to two weeks planning a new bat mitzvah for April 11, the same day it was supposed to be,” she said. The venue has shifted from Jerusalem’s Old City to the family backyard in the Bay Area.

“Our whole family that was coming to Israel is coming here,” Cohen explained. “Everyone had tickets, they took the time off, they were planning to be away. And we’re going do it here,” she said. “…It’s going to be a very different experience. But I think it will be special, nonetheless.”

Cohen acknowledges that rising antisemitic incidents and anti-Israel sentiments have heightened fears around Jewish communal gatherings. She notes “a lot of concern” about attacks on Jews, but says, “I don’t think it’s going to change how I live my life. That’s just not how I operate daily.” Some of her friends are “very worried, very concerned,” and “don’t like going to synagogues now for bar mitzvahs” or to events with Jewish speakers. “I just can’t live that way,” she said. Yurman shared those concerns but remained determined.

The women say the war itself remains difficult for Americans to understand. As a communications student, Feinstein believes many in the US only see missiles and chaos. “They think that Israel is a scary place, with missiles all the time, and there’s no fun,” she said. Most “don’t even know you can study in English in Israel,” or that young people like her can live normal lives between sirens. She uses her modest Instagram platform to “showcase Israel in a positive light and all the fun and everything that you can do in Israel,” hoping to make it feel “not so far away and foreign.”

Yurman said the public misses the constant reality of sirens and shelter runs. “Just turn on the alarm on your phone, … just feel it with them,” she said. “You don’t have to run to a shelter, but just think that that many times people with children, old people, young people, babies have to run into shelters.”

Feinstein views the conflict with Iran in broad terms. “Without being too political, I would say that Iran has been given too much military power,” she said. In her opinion, Israel is “fighting a war on behalf of the whole world and protecting the whole world,” including Americans who may not realize they are being defended. “Iran having any sort of nuclear weapon is terrifying for the world,” she added. “Even right now, in this exact moment, it sucks that we have to deal with the consequences of war and fighting and all that. But in the long term, being able to fight this war now will protect the Jews, and honestly, everybody around the world, hopefully for forever.”

Yurman agreed the war is “definitely necessary” and overdue, calling Iran a global threat that could lead to another 9/11. “I definitely think it’s doing what it should,” she said. “It’s a legit threat, not only to Israel, but to the world.”

Cohen remains skeptical of messaging from Washington. “I don’t think Americans understand it. I don’t think anyone understands it,” she said of the war with Iran. “The messaging that is coming out of our administration is inaccurate, and untruthful, and bombastic. And so, I think it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not.” Still, she believes the stakes could justify the campaign. “This could create a Middle East that is safer, not just for Israel and Jews, but safer for the world,” she said, while adding, “as to whether or not that is actually going to come to fruition, I don’t think anyone knows.”

Back in Israel, the impact of grounded aircraft and empty tour buses will persist long after the holidays. Feldman predicts outbound travel will recover within “one or two months” after a ceasefire, but inbound tourism will require “a solid six months” to rebound. Hotels and guides, he warns, will suffer longest, as many leave the industry “for stability, just as before.” Nothing will normalize “until the war has ended in Iran and missiles stop being fired from Lebanon,” he said. Yurman urged supporters to help accelerate that recovery: “When you end up taking a trip to Israel, you end up buying things in Israel. … Just support them.”

Feinstein is already planning beyond this Passover, balancing her activism and studies with her desire to remain rooted in Israel. Following October 7, she co-founded Mini Mitzvahs, a nonprofit that has “fed 60,000 soldiers on the front lines and visited injured soldiers in the hospital.” She and her friends have fulfilled “about 500 to 600 personal wish list requests” for wounded troops from Gaza and Lebanon and organized three barbecues on an air force base, feeding “over 100 pilots and 400 F‑16 plane technicians.”

For now, though, her focus remains personal: spending Passover with her family in Florida, then somehow returning to school without another harrowing detour. “I think anyone who wanted to get out was able to get out,” she said, noting that most students leaving Israel now are doing so for spring break, not from fear. “They’re not running away. They’re not fleeing. They just want to be with their families for this time.”

After Passover concludes, Feinstein will confront her biggest concern: repeating the exhausting journey back to Israel. “I definitely felt safer in Israel” than on the road, she said. The challenge, for now, is not the desire to be there—but finding a way to return without another “experience” she hopes never to repeat.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) — Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the former leader of Suriname who once served as a police commissioner investigating a notorious 1982 massacre of political dissidents, has passed away at the age of 67.

Known by the nickname “Chan,” Santokhi held the presidency of the South American nation from 2020 through 2025. He also held the position of justice and police minister between 2005 and 2010.

Current Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons announced Santokhi’s passing through a social media post, stating that “his years of service in various public functions will be remembered.”

Officials have not disclosed the cause of his death.

Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressed his condolences on X, saying he was “grieved and shocked by the sudden passing” of the former leader. “As president, and in his other roles, he meant a great deal to Suriname. He also tirelessly worked to strengthen the ties between the Netherlands and Suriname,” Jetten wrote.

The nation of Suriname was once under Dutch colonial rule.

When Santokhi assumed the presidency, he inherited a financially devastated country from his predecessor, the late dictator Desi Bouterse. Under his leadership, the nation achieved economic recovery with assistance from an International Monetary Fund assistance package. The recovery required difficult economic reforms, including eliminating government subsidies for fuel, utilities, and water services, creating hardships for citizens.

Widespread public anger over rising energy and fuel costs led to violent protests in February 2023, when hundreds of demonstrators breached the Parliament building calling for Santokhi to step down.

Following the May 2025 national elections, voters chose not to grant Santokhi another presidential term.

During his tenure as justice and police minister, Santokhi gained recognition for his aggressive approach to combating drug smuggling and criminal activity, which earned him the moniker “The Sheriff.”

Prior to his political career, Santokhi worked as a police commissioner and spearheaded the investigation into what became known as the “December killings” — the execution-style murders of 15 opposition figures by Bouterse’s military government in December 1982.

Bouterse eventually faced prosecution beginning in 2007, twenty-five years after the murders occurred. He received two convictions and a 20-year prison sentence for the killings but evaded capture until his death in late 2024.

While Bouterse acknowledged “political responsibility” for the murders, he consistently maintained he was not present during the executions.

Before legal proceedings commenced, Bouterse publicly accused Santokhi of plotting to imprison and assassinate him. The two men remained bitter political rivals throughout their careers.

Santokhi’s achievements in law enforcement and government service positioned him to become leader of the Progressive Reform Party in 2011 after chairman Ramdien Sardjoe stepped down.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed Monday that several international partners have urged his nation to dial back long-range attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as worldwide energy costs continue climbing.

During a media briefing conducted through WhatsApp, Zelensky indicated his country would be willing to pull back on such operations if Russia ceases its assault on Ukraine’s power grid. He also expressed openness to an Easter truce.

“Recently, following such a severe global energy crisis, we have indeed received signals from some of our partners about how to reduce our responses in the oil sector and the energy sector of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky stated during the virtual press conference.

A knowledgeable source revealed that American officials delivered this message to Ukrainian leadership during routine discussions, noting that the original “signals” seemed to originate from Moscow.

Neither the U.S. State Department nor Russia’s Washington embassy provided immediate responses when asked for comment.

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has tightened global oil, gas, and refined product availability, driving prices higher in what represents the most severe energy supply disruption on record. Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure have already forced the country to search desperately for energy sources.

Following a four-day Middle Eastern diplomatic mission, Zelensky announced he had secured commitments from regional nations to provide energy assistance to Ukraine.

Over the weekend during his Middle East tour, Zelensky revealed he had negotiated a one-year diesel supply agreement for Ukraine, though he didn’t elaborate on specifics. Diesel fuel remains essential for Ukraine’s military operations and agricultural industry, which forms the foundation of the nation’s economy.

Throughout his trip, Ukraine established preliminary cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with another deal reportedly being finalized with the United Arab Emirates.

Zelensky mentioned discussing air defense missile supplies with Middle Eastern officials during his meetings, though he didn’t specify whether any deals were reached.

Due to the Iran conflict, Ukraine’s international supporters are “primarily” directing their anti-ballistic missile systems toward the Middle East currently, sometimes leaving Ukraine overlooked, he explained.

A member of Yemen’s parliament has brought his case to American courts, alleging that former United States military personnel were contracted to assassinate him during his country’s civil war.

The lawsuit focuses on what Anssaf Ali Mayo claims was an attempt on his life in 2015. Mayo, a Yemeni lawmaker, has filed the legal action against the former American service members he believes were hired to carry out the killing.

The case extends beyond the alleged assassination plot, bringing attention to larger issues surrounding the United Arab Emirates’ participation in Yemen’s internal conflict.

Security personnel were stationed outside Yemen’s parliamentary building in Sanna during 2015, the same year Mayo says he became a target for elimination. The politician is now pursuing legal remedies through the U.S. court system against the former military members he accuses of being involved in the plot against his life.

The legal proceedings highlight ongoing questions about foreign involvement and private military activities during Yemen’s civil war, which has created widespread humanitarian concerns in the region.

BELGRADE, Serbia — European election monitors reported witnessing violent confrontations and voting violations during Sunday’s municipal elections in the EU candidate nation of Serbia.

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe released a statement Monday describing disturbing scenes outside polling locations. “Yesterday, the delegation observed procedures inside polling stations often largely in line with provisions but was alarmed by the situation outside the premises,” the organization stated.

The international observers added: “Congress observers witnessed acts of violence … and in all but one of the municipalities visited, saw heated arguments and the threatening presence of large groups of people, often unidentified and sometimes masked.”

Sunday’s municipal contests across 10 Serbian communities represented a significant political benchmark for authoritarian leader Aleksandar Vucic, who has faced sustained youth-driven demonstrations for more than 12 months that have challenged his firm control over the nation.

The Serbian leader’s right-wing populist Progressive Party claimed wins in all contested municipalities, with Vucic personally spearheading the campaign effort to solidify his position following protests that began in November 2024 after a deadly railway station incident in northern Serbia.

Physical altercations broke out in no fewer than three communities during voting day. Student demonstrators and election watchers reported being assaulted by Vucic backers, including some wearing masks, while the president and his political allies blamed opposition forces for instigating the disturbances.

The European monitoring team emphasized that “Violence and coercion are unacceptable barriers to the free expression of the will of all voters” and declared “No voter should feel threatened when exercising his or her democratic right.”

Beyond the physical confrontations, observers documented “a number of irregularities, related to breaches of voting secrecy and voters taking photos of their ballot papers” which they called “highly worrying.” The pre-election period was characterized as “highly polarized and focused on national priorities and actors.”

Vucic has encountered persistent criticism for restricting democratic institutions throughout his decade-plus tenure. Despite officially pursuing European Union membership, Serbia’s accession talks have stagnated as the president has cultivated relationships with both Russia and China.

National presidential and legislative elections are anticipated in Serbia within the coming year or early next year. Political analysts suggest Vucic’s popularity may have declined, though the large-scale protests have diminished in recent months.

Domestic Serbian election monitors documented numerous violent episodes and confrontations in several municipalities, along with procedural violations throughout Sunday’s voting. Video footage captured physical clashes and showed an armed individual in one location.

The independent Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability declared that “this can hardly be called an election.”

The organization documented violations of ballot privacy and coordinated voting schemes, plus recurring physical altercations involving government workers. Multiple individuals sustained injuries and riot police were deployed to several communities.

CRTA representative Jovana Djurbabic told The Associated Press: “The whole atmosphere was marked with high intensity of tensions, violence, pressures. I would not call these elections free, they are not free at all.”

Vucic has also claimed “logistical support” was provided to his political opponents by a neighboring nation during the election. The Serbian president has previously and repeatedly accused Croatia of backing the student movement that organized protests against his government.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic announced Monday he was canceling a scheduled May regional summit because hosting Vucic had become impossible given his recent statements.

Milanovic’s office stated that Vucic’s “political statements and actions … inflict damage on relations between the states and jeopardize peace and stability in southeastern Europe.”

Croatian-Serbian diplomatic ties have remained tense since Belgrade supported a 1991-95 Croatian Serb uprising against the nation’s separation from the Serbian-dominated former Yugoslavia. The conflict resulted in more than 10,000 deaths.

SANTIAGO, Chile — Chilean President José Antonio Kast announced Monday his government will strengthen security protocols at the nation’s educational institutions after two separate weapon-related incidents sparked widespread concerns about student safety.

The security enhancement pledge comes after a fatal assault on Friday that claimed one life and left four people injured. Additionally, on the same day as Kast’s announcement, authorities detained another student who attempted to bring a loaded weapon onto school grounds.

“We are going to have to take certain measures to protect our students,” Kast declared during a school event in Santiago, the nation’s capital. “These measures, which were previously met with strong resistance, now need to be viewed differently. Society has changed.”

The Friday incident involved an 18-year-old student who launched a blade attack at an educational facility in northern Chile, fatally wounding a 59-year-old school inspector and injuring four others, including staff and students.

Medical officials report one victim continues receiving treatment in critical condition, while the perpetrator remains detained by authorities.

Chilean officials are calling this assault among the most severe cases of educational institution violence the country has experienced.

Kast, a far-right political leader who assumed the presidency in early March, referenced Monday’s separate incident involving a 15-year-old who tried entering a school while carrying a loaded firearm, stating that “the events that shock us all continue to occur.”

“Today, once again, a student was found in a school with an object capable of harming other children,” the president noted.

While declining to provide specific details, Kast revealed his administration will pursue “measures for greater control over access to schools.”

Education Minister María Paz Arzola disclosed her department is preparing legislation that would authorize educators to search student bags. The government also plans to accelerate the installation of metal detection equipment at educational facilities.

The Monday arrest occurred in Curicó, located approximately 200 kilometers south of Santiago, where the teenager had concealed a weapon and bullets in his clothing while attempting to enter the school premises.

“Police arrived at the scene… they detained the minor, the weapon was seized, and they proceeded with the arrest,” explained Maj. Juan Díaz Serrano of Chile’s police force. He noted the student made no threatening statements and did not “pull out the weapon to intimidate any staff member or classmate.”

Although armed incidents remain uncommon in Chile, the country’s secondary schools and universities have a long tradition of political activism. During significant social unrest in 2011 and 2019, students took confrontational positions against political and corporate leadership while demanding comprehensive reforms.

In late 2024, over 30 students sustained injuries from an explosion involving homemade incendiary devices prepared for a student demonstration in Santiago. Earlier in May, three students were shot and injured during what authorities labeled Chile’s first school shooting incident, which occurred in the Bío Bío region.

President Donald Trump delivered mixed messages about U.S.-Iran relations on Sunday, suggesting diplomatic progress while simultaneously discussing aggressive military options against the Islamic Republic.

During his remarks, Trump indicated that America maintains both “direct and indirect” communication channels with Iran, characterizing the current U.S. strategic position as “very good.” He expressed optimism about potential negotiations, stating: “I think we’ll make a deal with them very soon. It may not happen, but I do see an agreement with Iran; it could happen soon.”

However, Trump also discussed potential aggressive actions against Iranian energy infrastructure. In comments to the Financial Times on Sunday, he said: “To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people.”

The President specifically mentioned Iran’s crucial oil export terminal, stating: “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options.” He acknowledged such action would require extended military presence, adding: “It would also mean we had to be there [in Kharg Island] for a while.” When questioned about Iranian defensive capabilities, Trump responded: “I don’t think they have any defense. We could take it very easily.”

Trump also announced on Truth Social that American military forces had conducted strikes against Iranian positions, declaring: “Big day in Iran. The targets were destroyed by our mighty military, the best and most lethal in the entire world.”

According to Wall Street Journal reports citing U.S. officials, the administration is evaluating a specialized ground mission to secure approximately 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran to block the nation’s nuclear weapons development, though no final authorization has been given while military planners assess troop safety concerns.

Israeli Defense Forces confirmed they are currently conducting operations against Iranian government facilities throughout Tehran. Iranian authorities reported an overnight aerial assault on a petrochemical plant in Tabriz, with officials stating: “the situation is under control and rescue forces are present at the scene,” while emphasizing that “no hazardous materials were released.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran’s Khondab heavy water reactor sustained major damage and ceased operations following last week’s reported attack, though the agency noted that no nuclear materials were believed to be housed at that location.

Iraqi military officials report that an Antonov-132 aircraft belonging to the nation’s Air Force was completely destroyed during a pre-dawn rocket assault on Monday at a military installation adjacent to Baghdad International Airport.

According to Iraq’s Defense Ministry, the strike occurred at 1:55 a.m. local time when rockets were fired from Baghdad’s outskirts, obliterating the aircraft while fortunately resulting in zero casualties.

Ministry officials condemned the assault as a “cowardly criminal act” targeting Iraq’s military establishment and defense infrastructure in their official statement. Technical specialists have begun evaluating the extent of damage and are working to identify where the rockets originated.

While no organization has stepped forward to take credit for the attack, and Iraqi officials haven’t publicly named the perpetrators, attention is expected to focus on Iranian-supported Iraqi militant factions. These groups have consistently launched strikes against military installations and facilities connected to U.S. operations around Baghdad’s airport in recent weeks. Such organizations have maintained a presence in Iraq for years and have intensified their offensive activities as regional conflict has expanded following the joint U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran that commenced February 28.

Iraqi leadership has attempted to prevent the nation from becoming more deeply entangled in the broader confrontation, though the country’s territory has historically served as a theater for competing regional powers. Baghdad maintains American personnel on its soil and preserves diplomatic relations with Washington, while simultaneously managing armed factions loyal to Tehran. This delicate diplomatic juggling has become increasingly challenging as Iran and its allied groups have retaliated against strikes on Iranian soil by targeting American and Israeli assets throughout the Middle East.

While the Baghdad airport area attack resulted in no loss of life, it delivered a clear setback to Iraq’s military forces and sparked renewed concerns about the government’s capacity to safeguard defense installations in the capital region. Iraqi leadership has consistently stated their commitment to preventing violations of national sovereignty, yet such incidents continue to highlight the disconnect between official policy and actual security conditions.

Multiple Iranian opposition factions organized demonstrations outside Iran over the weekend, displaying their continued resistance to the Islamic Republic as tensions with the United States continue to escalate.

The weekend events saw various anti-regime groups holding meetings in foreign countries as part of their ongoing campaign against Iran’s current government. These international gatherings aimed to showcase the opposition’s organizational capabilities and unity.

However, divisions within the opposition movement became apparent as some critics alleged that certain gatherings were backed by Israeli interests or pro-Israel advocacy organizations.

One notable event was the Iran Freedom Congress held in London, which organizers described as a gathering designed to unite different opposition factions under a republican framework. The congress was promoted as a central meeting point for Iranians living in exile around the world.

These demonstrations come at a time when military confrontation between Washington and Tehran appears increasingly possible, raising hopes among opposition leaders that citizens inside Iran might launch fresh protests against the regime’s control in the near future.

The weekend activities highlight the continued efforts by Iranian exile communities to maintain pressure on their homeland’s government while operating from abroad.

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — President Faustin-Archange Touadéra officially began his third consecutive term in office Monday, taking the oath three months following a controversial December election.

The new term will last seven years under constitutional changes approved in 2023. Those same amendments eliminated presidential term limits and extended the office from five to seven years. Opposition coalition parties refused to participate in the December voting in protest of these changes.

During Monday’s inauguration ceremony in Bangui, which drew attendance from the leaders of Congo-Brazzaville and Comoros, Touadéra outlined his economic vision. “We aspire to build a sovereign economy and ensure transparent management of our natural resources,” he stated.

The Constitutional Council reported that Touadéra secured 77.9% of votes cast, but opposition groups and civil society organizations have dismissed these figures as fraudulent.

Civil society activist Frédéric Godoba expressed strong skepticism about the reported results, saying “You have to be a fool to believe that.”

The nation has experienced ongoing instability since 2013, when predominantly Muslim rebel forces overthrew former President François Bozizé. A 2019 peace agreement between government officials and 14 armed factions helped reduce tensions, though six of those groups have since abandoned the accord.

The Central African Republic became one of the initial African nations where Wagner, the Russian mercenary organization, established operations.

Armed gunmen killed at least 20 people during a deadly assault on a Nigerian community Sunday night, according to local residents and government officials.

The violent incident took place in the Gari Ya Waye community located in Jos North area within Plateau state, according to Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the state’s information commissioner. In her official statement, Ramnap confirmed there were fatalities and injuries but did not specify casualty numbers.

Following the deadly assault, state officials enacted a 48-hour curfew aimed at preventing additional violence, Ramnap announced.

While no organization has taken responsibility for the attack, local residents reported to The Associated Press that numerous armed individuals on motorcycles fired randomly throughout the community.

Local resident Ibukun Falodun confirmed that 20 deaths had been verified from the incident.

Such violent incidents in Plateau State represent part of an ongoing pattern of bloodshed across north-central Nigeria, where conflicts over territory and livestock grazing rights between predominantly Muslim Fulani cattle herders and primarily Christian agricultural communities regularly turn fatal. Criminal organizations also operate throughout the region.

Two United Nations peacekeepers lost their lives Monday when an explosion destroyed their vehicle in southern Lebanon, according to the UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL.

The blast, described by officials as having an “unknown origin,” also left a third peacekeeper with severe injuries while a fourth sustained lesser wounds. The deadly incident occurred in the vicinity of Bani Haiyyan municipality.

This marks the second fatal attack on UN peacekeeping forces within a 24-hour period. Just one day earlier, another UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed when an explosive projectile detonated at a UN position in a village in southern Lebanon.

Police authorities confirmed Monday that a violent assault in the Haitian community of Petite-Riviere resulted in at least 16 fatalities and left 10 others wounded, as gang warfare continues to plague the nation’s crucial farming areas.

Civil protection officials on the ground provided preliminary casualty figures that were even higher, documenting 17 deaths and 19 people injured in the incident involving the Gran Grif gang.

Reports from regional news outlets indicated the deadly confrontation started within the Jean-Denis neighborhood of the community.

This latest outbreak of violence comes after United Nations officials documented that armed gang raids in the neighboring town of Verrettes recently forced more than 2,000 residents from their homes, causing people in Petite-Riviere to also abandon their residences.

The Artibonite department, which serves as Haiti’s primary agricultural hub, has experienced some of the nation’s most severe gang-related violence as criminal organizations expand their operations beyond the capital city of Port-au-Prince.