- Zelenskyy arrives in Jordan to bolster security ties Al Jazeera
- Ukraine Finalizes Air Defense Deals With Gulf Nations Amid War in Mideast The New York Times
- Visiting UAE, Zelensky announces defense cooperation with Abu Dhabi amid Iran attacks The Times of Israel
- Ukraine's Zelenskiy discusses security partnership with Jordan's king Reuters
- Ukraine offers Gulf allies drone defense in bid for scarce Patriot missiles Defense News
Zelenskyy arrives in Jordan to bolster security ties
The Ukrainian leader's visit comes after Kyiv agreed to cooperate on defence with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
What the Houthis’ entry into the Iran war means for the conflict and the wider region
Fresh attacks on Red Sea shipping would be devastating – but the Iranian proxy has reasons to be cautious
The true significance of the long-awaited entry of Yemen’s Houthis into the Iran war depends on whether the Tehran-backed proxy group is intending to send a few missiles and drones from a distance towards Israel or will instead capitalise on its proximity to the narrow Bab al-Mandab strait to effectively close off the Red Sea to shipping, just as Iran has in effect shut the strait of Hormuz.
The combined effect of both waterways being shut to commercial traffic from countries that neither the Iranians nor Houthis favour would be devastating. Napoleon Bonaparte’s remark that “the policy of a state lies in its geography” has never seemed more apt.
Continue reading...Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of shelling outskirts of eastern city, killing and wounding civilians – AP News
- Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of shelling outskirts of eastern city, killing and wounding civilians AP News
- Pakistan, Afghanistan trade fire as Islamabad prepares to host US-Iran talks reuters.com
- What’s behind Pakistan’s war with Afghanistan’s Taliban government? The Conversation
- Afghanistan Was Always Pakistan’s Problem. Now It’s Pakistan’s Crisis. The National Interest
- Border Violence Erupts Between Afghanistan and Pakistan During Diplomatic Talks Fine Day 102.3
Iran accuses US of plotting ground assault while publicly seeking talks
Tehran says it will confront any land attack, as Houthi missiles fired at Israel signal further escalation in region
Iran has warned the US that it is prepared to confront any ground assault, accusing Washington of secretly planning a land attack while publicly seeking talks, as the war that has killed thousands of people and caused the biggest ever disruption to global energy supplies entered its second month.
As efforts to find a negotiated conclusion to hostilities inched forward with a meeting of regional powers in Pakistan, there were signs of further escalation over the weekend as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis entered the conflict for the first time and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his country was widening its invasion of southern Lebanon.
Continue reading...Netanyahu orders military to expand invasion of southern Lebanon
As troops push towards Litani River, mourners gather for the funeral of three slain journalists killed in line of duty.
Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at church in Jerusalem – PBS
- Israeli police prevent Catholic leaders from celebrating Palm Sunday Mass at church in Jerusalem PBS
- Catholic Leaders Barred From Jerusalem Holy Site on Palm Sunday The New York Times
- Israel blocks Cardinal from Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, sparking outcry reuters.com
- Jerusalem heads into a subdued Passover and Easter under the shadow of the Iran war AP News
- Police reach agreement with Latin Patriarchate to allow limited groups in Church of Holy Sepulchre The Jerusalem Post
Russia’s Ust-Luga port damaged by more Ukrainian drones, fire under control – reuters.com
- Russia's Ust-Luga port damaged by more Ukrainian drones, fire under control reuters.com
- Russia was expecting a windfall from soaring oil prices, but relentless Ukrainian drone attacks are devastating nearly half its export capacity Yahoo Finance
- Ukraine steps up attacks on Russian oil industry as Kremlin reaps export windfall CNN
- Damaged Ust‑Luga terminal may force Russian refineries to cut runs, sources say reuters.com
- Fire Reported After Ukrainian Strike on Ust-Luga Port The Moscow Times
France detains two more suspects over foiled Paris Bank of America attack – Reuters
‘We can insure the ship, but we cannot insure a human life.’
International Maritime Organization chief Arsenio Dominguez warns of 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia expected a windfall from soaring oil prices, but Ukrainian drones are devastating exports – Fortune
- Russia expected a windfall from soaring oil prices, but Ukrainian drones are devastating exports Fortune
- Russia was expecting a windfall from soaring oil prices, but relentless Ukrainian drone attacks are devastating nearly half its export capacity Yahoo Finance
- Ukraine steps up attacks on Russian oil industry as Kremlin reaps export windfall CNN
- Russia's Ust-Luga port damaged by more Ukrainian drones, fire under control Reuters
- Russia Reports Fire in Strike on Major Baltic Port The Moscow Times
Houthis open new front against Israel, is Red Sea shipping at risk?
The Houthis in Yemen have launched their first attacks on Israel, opening a new front in the month-long regional war.
Struggling humpback whale stranded for third time on German coast
Weak and sick mammal has become stuck in shallow bays and experts say prognosis ‘doesn’t look good’
The fate of a humpback whale stuck in shallow bays off Germany’s Baltic coast hangs in the balance after it became stranded for a third time.
The roughly 10-metre-long (33ft) mammal appeared weakened and sick on Sunday and was struggling to find a route back to the Atlantic when it ran into fresh difficulty.
Continue reading...Iran hits industrial zone in southern Israel
An Iranian missile barrage has caused a fire a chemical plant near Beersheba in southern Israel.
Canada’s New Democratic Party elects Avi Lewis as its leader
Avi Lewis's campaign platform focused on revitalising the struggling left-leaning party and prioritising workers' rights.
Pope Delivers Holy Warning to Trump in Blistering Address – The Daily Beast
- Pope Delivers Holy Warning to Trump in Blistering Address The Daily Beast
- Pope Leo says God rejects prayers of leaders who wage wars Yahoo
- Pope seems to rebuke Hegseth in remarks about leaders with ‘hands full of blood’ The Guardian
- Pope Leo opens Holy Week with plea for peace: No one can use Jesus to 'justify war' National Catholic Reporter
- Pope Leo XIV rejects claims that God justifies war in Palm Sunday Mass message npr.org
Three arrested in Paris after attempted bomb attack outside Bank of America – BBC
- Three arrested in Paris after attempted bomb attack outside Bank of America BBC
- Trump confirms negotiating with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf The Times of Israel
- France detains two more suspects over foiled Paris Bank of America attack reuters.com
- France Detains Two More Suspects After Foiled BofA Paris Bombing Bloomberg.com
- Man in Paris Accused of Attempted Attack on Bank of America The New York Times
Three arrested in Paris after attempted bomb attack outside Bank of America
France's anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said it had immediately taken over the investigation.
Israeli police block Catholic cardinal from Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday
Since the US and Israel launched a war on Iran, Israel has closed holy sites in Jerusalem, citing safety concerns.
Funeral held for Lebanese journalists killed in Israeli strike
Hundreds gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs for the funeral of three Lebanese journalists killed by Israel.