Blog

The chief executive of surveillance technology company Intellexa announced Tuesday he will challenge his conviction in a major wiretapping scandal that shook Greece’s government in 2022.

Tal Dilian, who leads the surveillance firm, received a suspended prison sentence on February 26 when a Greek court found him and three others guilty of misdemeanor personal data violations.

“I remained silent during the trial, but I will not be a scapegoat,” Dilian stated to Reuters.

“I believe a conviction without evidence is not justice, it could be part of a cover-up and even a crime. I will present my case before national, regional, and international institutions, including requesting the intervention of the UN Special Rapporteur on judicial independence.”

The controversy, nicknamed “Predatorgate” by Greek media, began when a financial reporter and political figure claimed they were targeted by government surveillance using Predator malware, Intellexa’s primary spyware technology.

The scandal resulted in the dismissal of Greece’s intelligence chief and the prime minister’s top aide. Investigators discovered Predator software traces on numerous mobile devices.

Greece’s administration denied any misconduct and weathered a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2023 related to the surveillance allegations.

The country’s highest court prosecutor dropped charges against the intelligence service in 2024 but sent four individuals, including Dilian, to face misdemeanor prosecution.

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis stated this month that judicial officials are handling the matter, emphasizing that the supreme court dismissed the case regarding government involvement.

In his statement, Dilian argued that trial evidence contradicted the prosecutor’s findings and failed to connect the defendants to the intelligence service’s alleged “interferences.”

Dilian has previously maintained that his surveillance products are sold exclusively to government entities, making those governments responsible for lawful usage of the technology.

PARIS – French authorities carried out search operations Friday targeting a French diplomatic official whose name surfaced in Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, according to the French financial prosecutor’s office announcement Tuesday.

The law enforcement action comes as part of an ongoing investigation into the diplomat after his identification in materials made public by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the convicted sex trafficker Epstein.

The prosecutor’s office confirmed the raids occurred as investigators continue examining the diplomat’s potential connections to the disgraced financier’s criminal network.

CAIRO (AP) — Officials in Libya completed a rescue operation Tuesday to tow a damaged Russian natural gas vessel that had been floating aimlessly in Mediterranean waters for nearly a month following what authorities believe was a drone strike.

The vessel, known as the Arctic Metagaz, operates as part of what experts call Russia’s “shadow fleet” — ships that transport energy products while circumventing international sanctions imposed due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Coast guard officials from Libya reported that the liquefied natural gas carrier was successfully pulled toward a secure area near Zuwara, located along Libya’s western shoreline.

Footage released Tuesday by Libyan officials captured a tugboat pulling the compromised vessel with heavy rope. The tanker appeared to be listing to one side, its hull blackened from fire damage.

Libya’s National Oil Corp. announced over the weekend that it was working alongside Italian energy firm Eni to safely guide the damaged vessel to shore and prevent an ecological disaster.

The Libyan oil company stated it had implemented “all procedures … to reduce environmental risks and prevent any potential leakage or negative impacts.”

Moscow officials confirmed that Ukrainian naval drones struck and severely damaged the Arctic Metagaz in waters near Malta. All 30 crew members aboard were successfully evacuated. Ukrainian officials have not issued any statement regarding the incident.

The vessel sustained the drone attack earlier this month. Libya’s Maritime Authority reported at the time that the tanker suffered “sudden explosions, followed by a massive fire” while positioned roughly 240 kilometers (150 miles) from the Libyan city of Sirte. The maritime agency initially and incorrectly announced that the vessel had gone down.

Despite the damage, the Arctic Metagaz continued to float and was carried by ocean currents and wind patterns toward Libya’s coastline, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature, an international environmental group.

The conservation organization warned Monday that the tanker remained “highly unstable” and posed “significant environmental risks for one of the Mediterranean’s most fragile and biodiversity-rich marine areas.”

LONDON — Law enforcement officials in Britain are actively pursuing three individuals suspected of setting fire to emergency vehicles belonging to a Jewish charitable organization, prompting authorities to enhance protective measures for a community already experiencing heightened anxiety.

The fire occurred in Golders Green, a London area home to many Jewish residents, where four emergency vehicles owned by volunteer group Hatzola Northwest were destroyed. The incident caused oxygen tanks aboard the vehicles to detonate, shattering windows in a nearby residential building and further damaging the community’s fragile sense of safety amid ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts and what residents describe as rising anti-Jewish sentiment.

“We’re feeling vulnerable,” said Damon Hoff, president of the Machzike Hadath Synagogue, where the ambulances were parked. Some of the building’s stained-glass windows were damaged in the blast.

“We know what’s going on,” Hoff said. “Nobody’s eyes are closed. We’re living through wars. There’s multiple fronts, and Britain is a part of it, and our community is a tiny little part of a very, very big world.”

The United Kingdom’s Jewish population, while historically established, represents a small fraction of the nation’s demographics at approximately 300,000 people. Golders Green serves as a cultural hub for this community, featuring kosher dining establishments, numerous Jewish educational institutions, and dozens of places of worship.

According to the Community Security Trust, an organization dedicated to Jewish community protection, reported antisemitic incidents throughout the UK have dramatically increased following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza. The organization documented 3,700 incidents in 2025, a significant jump from 1,662 recorded in 2022.

A separate violent incident occurred in October 2025 when an individual used his vehicle to strike people gathered outside a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur, fatally stabbing one person. A second death occurred when police accidentally shot someone during their response to the attack.

Anti-terrorism investigators are heading the probe into the ambulance fire and examining a responsibility claim posted online by an organization identifying itself as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which means the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right.

Israeli officials describe this as a newly established group with potential connections to pro-Iranian networks that has also taken credit for synagogue attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Metropolitan Police Chief Mark Rowley stated that investigators are examining the claim but cautioned it’s premature to connect the attack to Iran’s government.

British officials have previously accused Iran of employing criminal intermediaries to execute attacks on European territory, specifically targeting opposition media and Jewish communities. The UK’s MI5 intelligence agency reports disrupting over 20 “potentially lethal” Iran-supported plots in the year leading up to October.

Just last week, two individuals in London faced charges for conducting “hostile” surveillance of the UK’s Jewish community on Iran’s behalf during the previous year.

Many British Jewish residents believe animosity also originates domestically.

Certain community members fault Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s center-left Labour administration for not preventing pro-Palestinian rallies held since October 7, 2023 from escalating into anti-Jewish rhetoric and actions. While these demonstrations have remained largely peaceful, some political figures and religious leaders argue that chants like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” promote anti-Jewish hostility.

Some also contend that the UK’s acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood has encouraged antisemitism — an assertion the government disputes.

Pro-Palestinian protesters, including some Jewish participants, maintain that criticizing Israeli policies doesn’t constitute antisemitism, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies have merged these concepts.

Rowley announced that London police will boost security measures for Jewish educational institutions, synagogues, and community facilities before next month’s Passover observance, including “highly visible firearms patrols.”

Jack Taub, a member of the Machzike Hadath Synagogue leadership, stated authorities “need to do a lot more” to safeguard the Jewish community.

He described the attack as disappointing but unsurprising “given the sentiment that there is in the country, the hatred that is against Jewish people.”

Jonathan Wittenberg, senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism, whose congregation is located near the attack site, described a feeling that threats are increasingly approaching.

“People are definitely anxious,” he told The Associated Press. “However, the other thing to say is there’s a very, very strong determination to continue with Jewish life. Judaism is nothing if not deeply resilient.”

These incidents have prompted some British Jews to consider relocating to safer locations — while questioning whether such places exist.

“Israel’s not exactly the safest place in the world at this moment,” Wittenberg said. “There certainly are people thinking, you know, Israel is my safe space. But I think there’s also a feeling, is there safe space anywhere?”

The European Commission has postponed its scheduled April 15 submission of legislation that would make the ban on Russian oil imports permanent, according to an updated legislative calendar released Tuesday.

While an EU representative confirmed to Reuters that the proposal remains active and will eventually be published, the mid-April timeline has been scrapped due to “current geopolitical developments.”

The International Energy Agency reports that the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has created unprecedented oil supply disruptions worldwide, driving crude prices significantly higher.

The proposed legislation would legally mandate the complete elimination of Russian oil imports no later than December 2027. This follows similar EU action to phase out Russian gas imports by late 2027.

Although the measure would have minimal immediate effect on actual oil supplies – the EU imported only 1% of its oil from Russia in the fourth quarter of 2025 after dramatically cutting imports following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine – Brussels seeks to make the prohibition legally binding.

The permanent ban would remain effective even if future peace agreements in Ukraine lead to the removal of current sanctions against Russia.

Existing EU restrictions on Russian seaborne oil have already eliminated the vast majority of imports from the bloc.

As of January 27, only Hungary and Slovakia continued receiving Russian oil, until a Russian drone attack damaged pipeline infrastructure in Ukraine, halting those shipments. Both Budapest and Bratislava have accused Ukraine of intentionally preventing the restoration of oil deliveries, creating a diplomatic crisis that prompted Hungary to block EU lending to Kyiv.

The original April 15 timing would have placed the proposal just three days following Hungary’s parliamentary elections. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has preserved friendly relations with Moscow throughout the Ukraine conflict, strongly opposes any such prohibition.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated earlier this month that resuming Russian energy purchases would constitute “a strategic blunder” and increase Europe’s vulnerability.

President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation Tuesday that centered on developments in the Middle East, with particular attention to ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains accessible to international shipping, according to U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.

The diplomatic exchange between the two world leaders was revealed through a social media post by Gor on platform X, highlighting the ongoing international concern over the strategic waterway’s security.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan officials announced Tuesday that devastating floods have claimed 88 lives after two major rivers overflowed their banks, forcing families from their homes and destroying agricultural land throughout the East African nation.

The flooding disaster has impacted 21 counties across Kenya, creating serious concerns about public safety, damaged infrastructure, and mounting humanitarian crisis. More than 34,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes since the flooding began in early March, according to the Interior Ministry.

Western Kenya experienced the most recent flooding emergency when the Nyando River overflowed Monday, inundating portions of the Ahero Bridge on the Kericho–Awasi–Kisumu highway and cutting off transportation throughout the area.

Government officials released a warning urging drivers to avoid the flooded roadway and find alternate routes, especially during nighttime hours when visibility becomes poor.

“This advisory is especially critical during the hours of darkness, when it may be difficult to accurately determine the depth and strength of the flowing water,” the statement said.

Rescue operations have escalated in the hardest-hit regions, with the Kenya Red Cross Society leading efforts to save trapped residents and move families to higher ground.

Around the Nyando region, emergency workers have rescued more than 200 people along with over 200 farm animals, while pulling at least two families from life-threatening situations. Officials are also rushing to evacuate more than 900 students from Ahero Girls National School as flood levels continue climbing.

The Interior Ministry reported Tuesday that no fewer than 265 households have been impacted in the region. Evacuated families are finding temporary shelter in community buildings, including government facilities, religious centers, and medical clinics. Six children without guardians were among those rescued and are receiving special care.

Additional flooding has struck other areas across the country.

In Tana River County, the River Tana overflowed, swamping farmland in Mbalambala and nearby communities, including Asako village, putting food supplies at risk. In Uasin Gishu County, a coordinated response team is evaluating damage from rising waters along the Sosiani River in Lower Elgon View, where homes and hospitality businesses have been impacted.

Throughout Kenya, the flooding has upended normal activities, shutting down schools, making highways impassable, and halting commerce, especially in low-elevation areas and informal communities.

Government officials report that emergency response teams continue monitoring conditions on location, with more evacuations planned if rainfall continues.

While Kenya faces seasonal flooding annually, the current disaster’s scope and severity have heightened worries about emergency readiness and the risk to communities located near waterways and flood-vulnerable regions.

Officials have called on residents in dangerous areas to stay alert and heed official warnings, cautioning that situations may deteriorate further if heavy precipitation persists.

TOKYO — Beijing has formally complained to Japanese officials following a security breach at China’s embassy in Tokyo involving an alleged military member.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a Beijing press briefing, someone identifying himself as a member of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces climbed over the embassy wall and entered the diplomatic compound Tuesday morning.

Relations between the neighboring countries have grown increasingly tense following comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November. Takaichi stated that any Chinese military move against Taiwan would represent “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan that might require military response. China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, has responded with increased diplomatic pressure and trade measures against Japan.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that the intruder, suspected to be a member of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force, was immediately apprehended and turned over to Tokyo police. No injuries occurred during the incident, according to the television report.

The suspect reportedly left a knife behind after scaling the embassy walls, NHK stated. TBS television reported the individual was carrying Self-Defense Force identification. Japanese media indicated police are treating the case as suspected trespassing.

Tokyo police declined to verify the reports or provide comment. The Ground Self-Defense Force acknowledged awareness of the incident to The Associated Press and said they are conducting their own investigation but could not elaborate further.

“China is deeply shocked by the incident and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side, expressing strong protest,” Lin stated. “The Japanese side has failed to properly manage and discipline its Self-Defense Forces personnel and has not fulfilled its responsibility to ensure the security of Chinese embassies and consulates and their staff.”

Lin called on Japan to conduct a complete investigation immediately, hold the individual accountable, explain the situation to China, and implement measures to prevent future incidents.

Taliban officials in Afghanistan freed American researcher Dennis Coyle on Tuesday following more than 12 months of detention, timing the release to coincide with Eid al-Fitr, the celebration marking Ramadan’s conclusion.

According to Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, Coyle was set free in the capital city of Kabul after his family made appeals and the nation’s Supreme Court determined “his previous imprisonment sufficient.”

The academic was taken into custody in January 2025 amid accusations of legal violations, though Taliban leadership never disclosed the specific charges against him.

The ministry revealed that both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar served as intermediaries in securing Coyle’s freedom. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held discussions in Kabul with former U.S. Afghanistan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad prior to the release.

Just weeks ago, the State Department labeled Afghanistan a nation that sponsors wrongful detention, claiming the country practices “hostage diplomacy.” This designation places Afghanistan alongside Iran as nations the U.S. accuses of imprisoning Americans to gain political advantages.

Taliban leadership has pushed back against American claims that they detain foreign nationals for diplomatic leverage, maintaining that arrests occur solely for legal infractions rather than bargaining purposes.

The Foreign Ministry stated Afghanistan freed Coyle “based on humanitarian sympathy and goodwill, and believes that such steps can further strengthen the atmosphere of trust between countries.” The statement continued that Kabul “also expresses the hope that both countries will find solutions to the remaining problems through understanding and constructive dialogue in the future.”

State Department officials have not yet responded to news of Coyle’s freedom.

At least one additional American remains in Taliban custody. Mahmood Habibi, a businessman with dual Afghan-American citizenship who worked for a telecommunications contractor in Kabul, disappeared in 2022.

While the FBI and Habibi’s relatives believe Taliban forces captured him, Afghan officials deny holding the businessman.

Ahmad Habibi, Mahmood’s brother, expressed gratitude for Coyle’s release while stating “we hope that our family will soon have the same feeling of relief, when Mahmood is returned home to us.”

WASHINGTON – America’s top diplomat Marco Rubio is set to participate in a gathering of Group of Seven foreign ministers in France this Friday, where discussions will center on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as escalating tensions in the Middle East following recent U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran, according to the State Department.

Allied nations are currently managing the consequences of President Donald Trump’s decision to launch strikes against Iran in recent weeks, which prompted Iranian retaliation against Gulf region neighbors and commercial shipping routes, effectively halting most maritime traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway.

The Secretary of State, who also serves as Trump’s primary national security advisor, is scheduled to participate in the G7 foreign ministers’ conference in Cernay-la-Ville, located just outside Paris, as confirmed by principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott in a Tuesday announcement.

“Areas of focus will include the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in the Middle East, and threats across the world to peace and stability,” Pigott said.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials reported that a massive Russian aerial assault targeting civilian areas resulted in four deaths and at least 27 injuries on Tuesday, as Moscow’s forces intensified their push against Ukrainian defensive positions in what appears to be the beginning of a long-expected spring ground campaign.

Ukraine’s air force confirmed that Russia deployed nearly 400 long-range drones against the country during overnight hours, marking the most extensive such attack in recent weeks. The bombardment extended into Tuesday’s daylight hours with additional drone strikes hitting the capital city of Kyiv.

The nighttime assault also included 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles launched by Russian forces, striking no fewer than 10 locations throughout Ukraine, air force officials reported.

Ukrainian citizens have faced continuous bombardments since Russia began its full-scale invasion of the neighboring country more than four years ago. Despite U.S.-mediated discussions between Moscow and Kyiv over the previous year, no relief has emerged, with Russia turning down Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal, while recent Middle East conflicts have shifted global focus away from Ukraine’s situation.

Along the approximately 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) battle line that winds through eastern and southern Ukraine, understaffed defenders have been preparing for a renewed Russian offensive as weather conditions improve.

Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, who leads Ukraine’s armed forces, reported that Russian military units have recently launched coordinated breakthrough attempts across multiple strategic locations.

“Fierce fighting unfolded along the entire line of contact,” Syrskyi stated Monday via the Telegram messaging platform, noting that Russia conducted 619 attacks over a four-day period.

“The occupiers are attempting to bring up new units and are preparing to continue attacks,” Syrskyi explained, while confirming that Ukraine had positioned additional forces to counter these assaults.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War indicated that Syrskyi’s assessment supports their conclusion that Russia’s spring-summer offensive has commenced.

According to the ISW’s Monday analysis, Russia has increased its strike operations since March 17 and relocated heavy military equipment and additional personnel to front-line positions.

Russia has historically intensified its grinding attrition campaign each year as weather conditions become more favorable. Despite these efforts, Russian forces have failed to capture major cities and have achieved only minor territorial advances in rural regions. Russia currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized in 2014.

Ukraine has developed sophisticated drone capabilities to compensate for its limited infantry resources.

As international attention focuses on Middle East tensions, Kyiv is proposing to share Ukraine’s combat-proven drone defense systems with U.S. and Gulf allies, seeking to exchange this expertise for critically needed Patriot air defense missiles to counter Russian bombardments.

Ukraine has also deployed its domestically manufactured long-range drones against Russian territories that support Moscow’s military operations. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that its air defenses successfully intercepted 55 Ukrainian drones overnight across Russian regions, annexed Crimea, and the Black Sea.

HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnamese and Russian officials have finalized an agreement to construct a nuclear power facility in Vietnam as the Southeast Asian nation resurrects its atomic energy program to strengthen power security and reduce carbon emissions.

The arrangement for the Ninh Thuan 1 facility, as reported by Vietnamese government media, marks a revival after two comparable projects were canceled in 2016 due to escalating expenses and safety considerations.

The pact was finalized Monday while Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính conducted an official visit to Moscow, meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Both nations characterized the facility as a “symbolic project” representing their partnership, Vietnam’s official government publication reported.

The proposed facility aligns with Vietnam’s goals to achieve prosperity by 2050 through development as Asia’s next “tiger economy.”

The arrangement establishes plans for constructing two Russian-engineered reactors totaling 2,400 megawatts of generating capacity, modeled after an operational facility in Russia.

Energy security worries have intensified following the conflict in Iran, which sparked a worldwide energy crisis, elevating imported fossil fuel prices and increasing Hanoi’s urgency to find dependable, sustainable power alternatives.

Throughout Southeast Asia, rapidly expanding economies are embracing atomic energy for cleaner, more dependable electricity. Supporters argue it provides reduced emissions compared to coal, petroleum, and natural gas, while advanced technology has enhanced reactor safety, reduced size, and lowered construction costs.

Monday’s Moscow discussions extended beyond atomic energy to include expanding partnerships in petroleum, natural gas, technology, and infrastructure development.

Vietnam and Russia have sustained diplomatic relations since 1950, originating during the Cold War era. However, economic connections remain limited. Trade increased from $3.63 billion in 2023 to $4.77 billion in 2025, significantly below Vietnam’s commerce with China and the United States.

Russia continues as a primary weapons provider, although Hanoi is working to diversify its suppliers.

VERIA, Greece (AP) — Every spring, Greece’s premier peach-growing territory transforms into a breathtaking pink landscape. The simultaneous blooming of countless peach trees generates a magnificent display that draws tourists annually, primarily from Greece and increasingly from across Europe.

“It’s something that people must experience and see at least once in their lifetime, because it’s a huge area,” said Gianna Pilitsidou, president of the Veria Tourism Club, based in the northern city of Veria.

The expansive plain, covering 170 square kilometers (approximately 65 square miles), becomes entirely pink during bloom season, she explained.

In recent years, the Veria Tourism Club has coordinated special activities within the flowering peach groves to celebrate this natural phenomenon: photo opportunities, bicycle excursions, and showcasing products from area farmers.

“Every year we welcome spring with celebrations in the fields, inviting people to visit us and experience it,” Pilitsidou said.

During two consecutive weekends, thousands of tourists strolled through the blooming peach orchards surrounding Veria, situated 72 kilometers (45 miles) west of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city.

“I want the people in Holland and Belgium to know what amazing spots there still are besides all the places that people already know,” said Wesley van Eijk, a blogger from the Netherlands who travels around Greece. “For example Veria. I mean more and more people get to know it, but you have to feel it and be here.”

These celebrations are designed to highlight the area and assist local peach growers.

“For all of this to happen, it takes a lot of hard work — a lot of effort from us farmers,” said Anastasios Chalkidis, president of the local farmers union. “We’re happy that this beautiful event takes place, this great promotion for the wonderful product we have.”

The festivities have proven beneficial for the area, with hospitality workers reporting a noticeable rise in tourist numbers.

“I came all the way from Germany to this fabulous event to have a look at the peach blossom, which I absolutely adore,” said traveler Andrea Lachnit. “You have to come because it’s stunning and beautiful and heavenly. I have never seen anything like this before.”

Peach trees throughout the Veria area typically flower from approximately mid-March through mid-April.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — For nearly twenty years before assuming his role as Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf conducted an extensive diplomatic campaign, presenting himself as a hardline leader with whom Western nations could negotiate within the Islamic Republic.

“I would like the West to change its attitude to Iran and trust Iran, and rest assured that there’s an attitude in Iran to advance issues through dialogue,” he stated to The Times of London in 2008.

As the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran enters its fourth week, the 64-year-old former pilot and Revolutionary Guard commander has rejected claims of ongoing discussions with Washington, despite media reports suggesting he was proposed as a potential negotiating counterpart for the U.S.

Uncertainty surrounds Qalibaf’s actual influence within Iran’s religious government structure, which was severely disrupted following the February 28 Israeli air attack that resulted in the death of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The late leader’s son, Mojtaba, who now serves as Iran’s supreme leader, has supported Qalibaf throughout his numerous unsuccessful presidential bids. Nevertheless, various power centers within Iran’s theocratic system are likely competing for control of the Islamic Republic, with ongoing questions about Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition after reports he sustained injuries and has not been publicly seen.

During his tenure, Qalibaf has been connected to government crackdowns on protesters demanding political reform and has faced various corruption accusations.

President Donald Trump may be seeking an Iranian equivalent to Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power after U.S. forces captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

“Many Iranians despise Ghalibaf; diplomats see him as pragmatic,” analyst Michael Rubin wrote, using an alternative spelling of the politician’s surname. “Those diplomats confuse pragmatism with opportunism. Ghalibaf is a survivor. He sees in Trump someone who can help him achieve what late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei denied him: the presidency or some equivalent interim leadership role.”

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, which maintains close ties to the Guard, characterized Western media reports on Tuesday as a “political bomb” designed to destabilize the country’s leadership.

“Qalibaf was introduced as a negotiating party in order to present a contradictory and non-unified image of Iran,” Tasnim reported. “The mention of Qalibaf’s name was clearly intended to create internal divisions within Iran and to provoke conflict among political forces.”

Born in Torqabeh city within Iran’s northeastern Razavi Khorasan province, Qalibaf’s father worked as a shopkeeper rather than belonging to the Shiite religious leadership that gained control during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Following the pattern of many young men from his generation, he enlisted with the paramilitary Guard during Iran’s devastating 1980s conflict with Iraq, advancing rapidly through military ranks. Following the war’s conclusion, he directed the Guard’s construction division, Khatam al-Anbia, for multiple years while leading reconstruction efforts.

As a trained aviator, he subsequently commanded the Guard’s air force. In 1999, he co-authored a letter to reformist President Mohammad Khatami during student demonstrations in Tehran sparked by the government’s closure of a reformist publication and subsequent security force response. The letter warned Khatami that the Guard would act independently unless he agreed to suppress the protests.

The violent confrontations during these demonstrations, marking the beginning of a series of expanding protests over recent decades, resulted in multiple deaths, hundreds of injuries, and thousands of arrests.

Qalibaf later assumed leadership of Iran’s police force, modernizing operations and establishing the nation’s 110 emergency telephone system. However, leaked audio from a subsequent meeting between Qalibaf and members of the Guard’s volunteer Basij force revealed him claiming responsibility for ordering gunfire against protesters in 2003 and commending the violence employed during Iran’s 2009 Green Movement demonstrations.

Then-President Hassan Rouhani referenced the 2003 incident during their confrontation in a 2017 presidential election debate.

“There was an argument that you were saying that the students should come then we can pincer attack to them and finish the job,” Rouhani stated at the time.

While serving as Tehran’s mayor from 2005 to 2017, Qalibaf encountered corruption charges, including concerns over approximately $3.5 million donated to a foundation operated by his wife.

Despite this, he leveraged his position to attend the World Economic Forum and even complimented New York City during a Financial Times interview, likely surprising fellow hardliners. Political rivals compared Qalibaf to Reza Pahlavi, an ambitious military leader who became shah in 1925 and aggressively pursued Persia’s westernization while renaming it Iran before transferring power to his son Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Qalibaf did not completely dismiss this comparison.

“If authoritarianism means when collective sense reaches a plan and decision, I’m very determined and firm in carrying it out,” Qalibaf explained to The Financial Times in 2008, positioning himself as an alternative to hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “When the expediency of the society is in carrying a project, then I’m very firm and show little flexibility and don’t let that collective sense be marred or disarrayed.”

Despite unsuccessful presidential campaigns in 2005, 2013, 2017, and 2024, U.S. diplomatic sources indicated he maintained Mojtaba Khamenei’s backing, according to diplomatic communications released by WikiLeaks.

“Mojtaba reportedly has long maintained a very close relationship with Tehran Mayor and presidential hopeful Mohammad Baqr Qalibaf; Mojtaba was reportedly the ‘backbone’ of Qalibaf’s past and continuing election campaigns,” stated an August 2008 cable. “Mojtaba is said to help Qalibaf as an advisor, financier, and provider of senior-level political support. His support for and closeness to Qalibaf reportedly remains undiminished.”

With Khamenei now serving as Iran’s supreme leader, Qalibaf’s standing may receive substantial enhancement.

Following Trump’s decision to extend a 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, media outlets reported Qalibaf as a potential Iranian liaison for the U.S. administration. Qalibaf has personally refuted claims of active negotiations.

“No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” he posted Monday on X.

Notably, unlike numerous Iranian government officials, Qalibaf’s name does not appear on any U.S. bounty list.

Whether Israeli forces consider Qalibaf a target remains unknown. In his role as parliament speaker, Qalibaf endorsed the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel, declaring it demonstrated the “Zionist regime will never have peace until the day it is annihilated.”

Trump also expressed concern Monday that revealing his unnamed negotiating partner could endanger potential discussions.

When asked about his reluctance to identify the Iranian negotiator, Trump responded to reporters: “Because I don’t want them to be killed, OK? I don’t want them to be killed.”

MOSCOW – Russian government officials acknowledged Tuesday they are reassessing plans to expand the country’s long-term financial reserves after oil prices surged due to conflicts involving Iran.

The confirmation came after Reuters reported Monday that Moscow would delay its strategy to strengthen fiscal reserves in response to the recent petroleum market volatility.

When questioned about the news report, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov explained the matter falls under government authority. “This is the prerogative of the government,” Peskov stated during a press briefing. “These issues are discussed at meetings on economic issues with the participation of the head of state. These issues are currently being worked out.”

According to sources familiar with the situation, the decision to postpone the reserve enhancement plan stems from the recent spike in oil prices connected to ongoing tensions with Iran.

Peskov indicated that economic policy discussions involving President Vladimir Putin are addressing these fiscal matters as the situation develops.

Recent military operations may have eliminated Iran’s remaining fleet of F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft, potentially bringing to a close an unusual chapter in aviation history that stretched across nearly five decades.

The fighter jets gained worldwide recognition through their starring role in the blockbuster film Top Gun. However, their real-world story involves a complex relationship between the United States and Iran that transformed dramatically over the years.

During the 1970s, the United States provided these advanced fighter aircraft to Iran when the two nations maintained friendly relations. The situation changed drastically as the countries later became adversaries, leaving Iran in possession of American-made military equipment.

Despite facing extensive U.S. sanctions that made obtaining replacement parts and maintenance support extremely difficult, Iran managed to keep these aging aircraft operational for many years through various means.

The U.S. military officially retired its own F-14 fleet in 2006, with the final launch taking place from the USS Theodore Roosevelt on July 28 of that year.

If confirmed, the destruction of Iran’s remaining F-14s would mark the end of an extraordinary period in which these American-designed aircraft continued flying in a nation that had become one of the United States’ primary opponents in the region.

JERUSALEM – Three high-ranking Israeli officials revealed Tuesday that President Donald Trump is actively pursuing diplomatic negotiations with Iran in hopes of bringing an end to Middle Eastern conflicts.

The officials, who requested anonymity, expressed skepticism that Iran would accept American conditions in any renewed diplomatic efforts. Previous negotiations collapsed on February 28 when the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran began.

Any American requirements would likely focus on restricting Iran’s nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile development programs.

On Monday, Trump posted on social media that the United States and Iran had engaged in “very good and productive” discussions regarding a “complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.”

Iranian officials contradicted Trump’s statement, denying that any diplomatic talks had occurred.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented Monday that Trump sees potential in “leveraging the mighty achievements obtained by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) and the U.S. military, in order to realize the goals of the war in a deal — a deal that will preserve our vital interests.”

LONDON, March 24 – European economic activity has slowed dramatically this month as ongoing Middle East conflicts have pushed business costs to their highest levels in more than three years while creating the most severe supply chain problems since mid-2022, according to new survey data released Tuesday.

The S&P Global flash euro zone Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to 50.5 in March, down from February’s reading of 51.9. This represents the lowest level in 10 months and falls short of economists’ predictions of a smaller decline to 51.0.

The index has remained above the critical 50.0 threshold that indicates expansion rather than contraction for 15 consecutive months.

Economic momentum ground to a halt as new business orders declined for the first time in eight months, primarily due to weakness in service industries. While manufacturing orders continued growing, production output in that sector edged down to 51.7 from the prior month’s 51.9.

“The flash euro zone PMI is ringing stagflation alarm bells as the war in the Middle East drives prices sharply higher while stifling growth,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Business expenses increased at their steepest rate since February 2023, affecting both manufacturing and service companies with accelerating price pressures. The cost surge was particularly severe in manufacturing as energy prices climbed and supply networks became severely constrained due to the ongoing conflict.

Delivery delays from manufacturing suppliers extended significantly, reaching their worst levels since August 2022, primarily because of shipping interruptions related to the war.

Production levels kept rising in Germany, boosted by manufacturing output that expanded at its fastest pace in over four years, while France experienced another decline. Other eurozone nations showed only minimal activity increases, representing the weakest performance in 27 months.

Workforce levels dropped for the third month running, with job reductions concentrated in manufacturing where employment has fallen every month since June 2023. Service sector hiring increased slightly but at the smallest rate since September.

Business optimism crashed to nearly a year-low, with the monthly decline representing the steepest drop since Russia’s Ukraine invasion in early 2022. Companies maintained positive outlooks for the coming year but sentiment remained below historical averages.

“Output growth has meanwhile slowed to near-stagnation thanks to a slump in business confidence and deterioration of new orders,” Williamson added.

The survey findings suggest eurozone gross domestic product growth decelerated to a quarterly rate just under 0.1% in March, with forward-looking measures indicating increased recession risks in upcoming months.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — An international human rights organization reported Tuesday that armed rebels in eastern Congo imprisoned civilians, including two media workers, inside shipping containers lacking proper lighting and air circulation.

The press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) documented how the M23 rebel group, which receives backing from Rwanda and controls territory in eastern Congo, converted the metal containers into temporary jail cells under what the group described as “inhumane” and “degrading” circumstances in Goma.

Through witness testimony, satellite photographs, and images gathered in 2025, RSF verified that no fewer than two journalists were among those confined in the containers, which had been positioned at the regional legislative assembly building in Goma. The organization protected witnesses’ names for safety concerns.

Up to 80 prisoners were crammed into single containers simultaneously, deprived of light and fresh air, with permission to exit only once daily. According to witness accounts, detainees received inadequate food portions, while some described regular physical abuse. The testimonies revealed extreme circumstances — sweltering heat during daytime hours and frigid temperatures at night — with fatalities occurring. Those who survived typically endured weeks of confinement before relocation to different facilities.

M23 representatives had not provided a response to Associated Press inquiries by publication time.

The rebel organization’s seizure of Goma in the previous year has deteriorated working conditions for media professionals in eastern Congo, where intimidation and violence against reporters were already common. Reporters Without Borders noted that M23 has strengthened its grip on news reporting, including dictating specific terminology for describing the group’s activities.

Eastern Congo’s resource-abundant territory has endured continuous violence for decades while government troops battle over 100 different armed factions, with the Rwanda-supported M23 being the most formidable. The organization launched an extraordinary offensive into the area in early 2024, capturing strategic urban centers while rapidly expanding territorial control.

The ongoing warfare, which continues despite peace negotiations facilitated by the United States and Qatar, has created a massive humanitarian emergency, forcing no fewer than 7 million individuals from their homes.

A Bangkok court delivered a significant victory for environmental justice Tuesday, determining that an Australian-owned mining company must pay damages to hundreds of Thai villagers who suffered health consequences from toxic pollution.

The legal battle began in 2016 when more than 300 residents of Phichit province filed Thailand’s first environmental class action lawsuit against Akara Resources, which operates the Chatree Gold Mine — the nation’s largest gold extraction facility owned by Australia-based Kingsgate Consolidated.

According to the Bangkok Civil Court’s decision, the mining company could not demonstrate that dangerous contamination found in the community was unconnected to their operations. Medical examinations revealed dangerous concentrations of heavy metals in residents’ blood, including arsenic, cyanide and manganese.

“The fight is also for our future generation,” plaintiff Thanyalak Boontham stated following the court proceedings. “I’d like them to be able to grow up in a good environment.” Her own medical tests showed toxin levels above safe thresholds.

The court ordered individual compensation payments between 50,000 baht ($1,535) and 200,000 baht ($6,143) per affected person, along with additional funds for medical expenses and emotional suffering.

Emilie Palamy Pradichit from the Bangkok-based Manushya Foundation, which supported the villagers throughout their legal challenge, emphasized the broader implications. The outcome could determine whether communities see the judicial system as “a pathway or a dead end,” she explained.

Legal experts believe this verdict establishes important groundwork for environmental accountability across Southeast Asia. Jameela Joy Reyes from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment described the decision as a “clarion call for many of the cases that are currently taking place” in nations like the Philippines and Indonesia.

Even when court precedents aren’t legally binding across borders, judges frequently reference similar cases from other countries, particularly in emerging legal areas such as climate litigation, Reyes noted.

The mining controversy involved multiple legal proceedings, several health studies, and a counter-lawsuit. Former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha eventually used emergency military government authority to halt the mine’s operations, prompting Kingsgate to sue the Thai government in 2017 for improper license cancellation. The parties resolved that dispute through a settlement agreement last year.

Cherdsak Utha-aroon, Akara Resources’ sustainability general manager who attended the hearing, told reporters the company acknowledges the court’s determination and will consult with legal counsel about potential next steps. He declined additional commentary.

Environmental law specialist Georgina Lloyd with the United Nations Environment Program noted that these “polluter pays” lawsuits, where communities pursue legal action against corporations for environmental harm, are becoming increasingly prevalent in climate-related litigation.

“Asia’s share of climate and environmental litigation is increasing,” Lloyd observed. “We continue to see this trend growing both in the volume of cases but also the geographical scope of jurisdictions.”

The Grantham Research Institute documented approximately 225 climate litigation cases filed in 2024, part of nearly 3,000 cases they monitor across 60 nations worldwide.

Climate-vulnerable regions like Southeast Asia, which have experienced devastating extreme weather causing billions in damages, are expected to see more such legal challenges, according to Reyes.

Two groundbreaking “polluter pays” cases in Southeast Asia are pioneering legal strategies to hold corporations responsible for “climate harms” resulting from their greenhouse gas emissions, Reyes explained.

Survivors of 2021’s Super Typhoon Odette filed suit against energy giant Shell in British courts last year, arguing that Shell’s emissions significantly contributed to climate change and therefore the storm’s devastating intensity.

Additionally, a Swiss court in 2025 permitted Indonesian fisherfolk from Pari Island to proceed with their case against cement manufacturer Holcim, claiming the company’s emissions contribute to flooding and rising sea levels that endanger their homes and livelihoods.

These cases, along with Thailand’s Chatree decision, represent a “very poignant call for discussions on climate justice,” Reyes stated.

Beyond monetary compensation, the legal expert emphasized that “the fact that the court made a proclamation of liability is a win in and of itself. That could be translated to other jurisdictions and be used as a cautionary tale for other companies moving forward.”

BRUSSELS – Belgian authorities have detained two juveniles following an arson attack in Antwerp that officials suspect was driven by antisemitic motives, according to a Belgian government representative who spoke with Reuters on Tuesday.

The arrests took place during overnight hours spanning Monday into Tuesday in connection with the fire-setting incident in the Belgian city.

BEIJING, March 24 – Chinese President Xi Jinping conducted an uncommon inspection of the massive Xiongan development project currently under construction outside Beijing, encouraging government officials to fully commit to completing a venture that has become closely associated with his political reputation.

Situated approximately 100 kilometers southwest of China’s capital in Hebei province, the Xiongan New Area holds designation as one of three special economic zones considered to have national importance, joining the established technology and finance centers of Shenzhen and Shanghai Pudong along the coast.

During his Monday inspection, Xi emphasized that “The Xiongan New Area should take reform and innovation as the driving force to promote the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation,” as reported by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

The Chinese leader aims to transfer government-owned companies, academic institutions, technology firms and banking organizations to Xiongan, which spans an area similar to Greater London, as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding and traffic problems in Beijing.

State media reports indicate that Sinochem and China Satellite Network Group are part of at least eight government-owned corporations relocating their main offices to Xiongan, with some already operational while others remain under construction.

Almost ten years after initial construction commenced in 2017, the central areas of Xiongan continue to have few residents, although planners expect basic development to finish by 2035.

Xi encouraged officials to “be bold in taking responsibility, throw themselves into the work of implementation, and strive to deliver satisfactory results to the Party and the people” during his inspection tour, according to Xinhua’s reporting.

While China’s senior leadership typically maintains distance from individual projects, Xi has personally attached his reputation to Xiongan as he has strengthened his role as the primary leader of both the Chinese Communist Party and the nation.

Government publications and state-controlled media describe the decision to construct the city as having enduring significance for the next thousand years, highlighting Xi’s direct involvement in planning, decision-making and advancing the development.

Xi initially toured the location in 2017, coinciding with his second term as Communist Party general secretary, then returned in 2019 following a constitutional change that enabled his third leadership term.

Monday’s tour included visits to the recently completed headquarters of state-owned China Huaneng Group power company and a local high school, marking Xi’s fourth inspection since his previous visit in May 2023.

Xi instructed officials to “promote the early implementation of innovative policies in fields including sci-tech and finance” within Xiongan, as China works toward achieving technological advances in critical areas.

A senior European Union official cautioned Tuesday that Vietnam’s decision to partner with Chinese technology companies for its 5G infrastructure could discourage international businesses from investing in the Southeast Asian country.

While European telecommunications giants Ericsson and Nokia are building Vietnam’s primary 5G network framework, Vietnamese government-owned operators have recently signed contracts with Chinese competitors Huawei and ZTE for additional 5G services.

This represents a significant departure from Vietnam’s historically cautious stance regarding Chinese partnerships, raising alarm among Western government representatives.

EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela urged caution during an EU-Vietnam investment conference in Hanoi. “Be careful with dependencies in strategic areas,” Sikela advised when questioned about the Chinese telecommunications deals.

Speaking to Reuters at the investment forum, Sikela emphasized the strategic importance of network security. “5G is the new battlefield,” he explained. “Through the network you can access a lot and you can control a lot, and you have to be always careful who is your trusted vendor.”

The EU official warned that security concerns could impact future business relationships. “If investors have doubts about the security of their data, they might decide not to take the risk and not to invest,” he stated.

Neither Vietnam’s foreign ministry nor the Chinese embassy in Hanoi provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

Vietnam serves as a crucial manufacturing center, hosting significant production facilities for major Western corporations, including European companies Adidas and Lego. The nation’s sustained economic growth over several decades relies heavily on international investment.

On Tuesday, the European Union and European nations unveiled a fresh investment package targeting Vietnam’s transportation and energy infrastructure.

Sikela acknowledged that potential investment risks from insecure networks remain hypothetical at this point, noting that various European nations previously permitted Chinese telecommunications vendors to operate within their borders.

Both Huawei and ZTE face prohibitions from telecommunications infrastructure in multiple European countries and the United States due to national security concerns.

The Chinese companies have denounced these limitations as unjust, dismissing security worries as without merit.

Vietnamese government representatives have defended Chinese telecommunications equipment as dependable and cost-effective while minimizing security concerns. Reuters previously reported that additional agreements with Chinese companies are currently being considered.

BERLIN – Germany’s president delivered stark remarks Tuesday comparing President Donald Trump’s second term to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a historic turning point that demands his country pursue greater independence from the United States.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier drew parallels between two pivotal dates during a foreign ministry gathering in Berlin, stating his belief that relationships cannot return to their previous state.

“Just as I believe there will be no going back in relations with Russia before February 24, 2022, so too do I believe there will be no going back in transatlantic relations before January 20, 2025,” Steinmeier declared in his prepared speech.

The German leader argued his nation should apply strategies used to reduce “excessive dependencies” on Russia to its relationship with America, especially regarding defense and technological sectors.

While Steinmeier serves primarily in a ceremonial capacity as president, his position allows him to shape public discourse as the country’s official representative.

German officials have increasingly focused on developing alternatives to American-controlled technology amid growing worries about U.S. influence and access.

Steinmeier emphasized the broader implications of technological dominance, noting: “We know that this technological lead means not only foreign policy power, but also the power to influence our domestic politics through digital platforms and social media.”

He pointed to recent tensions between the Pentagon and artificial intelligence company Anthropic regarding safety protocols as potentially beneficial for European interests.

“Europe as a technology hub has talent, markets, opportunities and, importantly, ethical standards. We should build on these,” the German president concluded.

BEIJING – Chinese officials have filed a formal complaint with Japan following what they’re calling an illegal intrusion at their Tokyo embassy facility, according to statements released Tuesday by China’s foreign ministry.

The incident occurred Tuesday morning when someone identifying himself as a member of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces climbed over the embassy’s perimeter wall and unlawfully entered the diplomatic compound, said ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a scheduled news briefing.

“The individual admitted that his actions were illegal and threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel in the so-called name of God,” Lin stated, calling on Tokyo authorities to launch a comprehensive investigation into what happened.

Chinese officials have formally registered their strong objections with Japanese authorities over what they characterized as a serious security breach at the diplomatic facility.