Trump says U.S. will hit Iran 'very hard' over next week, war will end when he feels it 'in my bones'

US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will hit Iran "very hard" over the next week, as the US military operation against the Islamic Republic enters its 14th day, aiming to destroy Tehran's missile capabilities, its Navy, and end its pathway to nuclear arms. During a Fox News radio interview released Friday, he also said that the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran will end when he feels it "in my bones," as he pointed to progress that the US military has m

March 14, 2026

Iran's new supreme leader vows to keep Hormuz shut in defiant first remarks

Iran will fight on and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut as leverage against the United States and Israel, ‌new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday in the first comments attributed to him since he succeeded his slain father. Khamenei did not appear in person and the remarks were read out by a state television presenter. No images have been released of him since an Israeli strike at the start of the war that killed much of his family, including his father and wife. Thursday's statement

March 13, 2026

US may have struck Iranian girls' school after using outdated targeting data, sources say

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- A strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed scores of children may be the result of US use of outdated targeting data, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters ‌Wednesday, providing new details about what would rank among the worst cases of civilian casualties in decades of US conflicts. Reuters first reported Thursday that an ongoing, internal US military investigation showed US forces were likely responsible for the strike ⁠on the girls' school in Minab. V

March 12, 2026

Epstein's longtime accountant testifies on his wealth and business ties

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers were digging into Jeffrey Epstein's sprawling financial portfolio on Wednesday as a committee deposed his former accountant and tried to understand his connections to some of the world's wealthiest men. Richard Kahn, who worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as an executor of his estate, appeared for the closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill. He told lawmakers that he had not personally seen evidence of Epstein's sexual abuse, but provided a full

March 12, 2026

Wealthy nations release record oil reserves

PARIS (AP) — A group representing many of the world's wealthiest countries agreed Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history, in a bid to counter the effects of the Iran war on energy markets and the halt of cargo shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The International Energy Agency said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members’ emergency reserves, which is more than double the 182.7 million barrels that the IEA's 32 member countri

March 12, 2026

Arctic sea ice among lowest on record: AFP review of US data

Arctic sea ice is headed for one of its smallest winter peaks on record, an Agence France-Presse review of US data showed Wednesday, as climate change shrinks the region's frozen cover and heightens geopolitical tensions. Formed when ocean water freezes, Arctic sea ice melts naturally in summer and reforms in winter, but the amount that returns has been declining due to human-induced planetary warming. The maximum sea ice extent in the Arctic reached nearly 14.22 million square kilometers on Mar

March 12, 2026

War likely to worsen repression in Iran: UN probe

GENEVA (AFP) -- The war in the Middle East is likely to result in worsening institutionalised repression of Iranian citizens, UN-mandated investigators probing rights abuses in Iran said Wednesday. The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said civilians in the country were caught between ongoing armed hostilities and repression that has reached unprecedented levels, which may amount to crimes against humanity. Iran's deepening human rights crisis "is likely to worsen in th

March 12, 2026

Sea drones target oil tankers in the Middle East as conflict risks widen

LONDON (Reuters) -- Naval drones have been used in at least two attacks ‌on oil tankers in the Gulf region since war erupted between the US, Israel and Iran, according to maritime authorities and analysts, demonstrating a dangerous new threat in the key shipping lane. The emergence of the use of explosive-laden unmanned surface vessels, which Ukraine ‌has used with great effect in its war with Russia, comes as Iran threatens to block oil shipments from transiting the key Strait of Hormuz, the ch

March 12, 2026

UNESCO fears for fate of historical sites during Iran war

PARIS (Reuters) -- UNESCO said it ​is deeply concerned about the fate of world heritage sites in Iran and across the region, after Tehran's Golestan palace, ‌often compared to Versailles, and a historic mosque and palace in Isfahan were damaged in the war. The UN's cultural agency on Wednesday urged all parties to protect the ‌region's outstanding cultural sites, saying four of Iran's 29 world heritage sites had been damaged since the start of the US and Israeli war with Iran. "UNESCO is deeply

March 12, 2026

Iran ‘welcome to compete’ in World Cup, says Trump

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump would "welcome" Iran's participation at the upcoming World Cup in North America, despite the ongoing Middle East war, the White House said on Wednesday. The war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, has thrown into doubt Iran's participation at this summer's men's soccer World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. The US administration was confirming an Instagram post by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino earlier in

March 12, 2026

Jill Biden opens up in memoir about Joe Biden's decision to end his 2024 reelection bid

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jill Biden is breaking her silence about Joe Biden's decision to abruptly end his 2024 presidential reelection bid under pressure from Democrats concerned about his age, health and viability against Republican Donald Trump in a rematch of their 2020 campaign. A political spouse for nearly 50 years, Jill Biden said she has never publicly discussed her feelings about the three-week stretch when her husband ended his political career, instead saving her thoughts for the pages of

March 12, 2026

[Graphic News] South Korea takes pride in its people: survey

A global survey of 30,000 people across 25 countries by the Pew Research Center found that sources of national pride vary widely, reflecting cultural values and political systems. In South Korea, respondents most often cited “diligent and sincere people with strong national character” as their greatest source of pride, highlighting national character and social cohesion. Similar sentiments were expressed in Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain, where “the people” ranked highest. In contrast, Amer

March 12, 2026

Wildlife to replace humans on next series of UK banknotes

Images of animals ​will feature on the next series of banknotes from the Bank of England, as the central bank shifts away from historical figures such as William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill and Jane Austen over the coming years. "Nature is a great choice from a banknote authentication perspective and means we can showcase the UK's rich and varied wildlife on the next series of banknotes," Victoria Cleland, the BoE's chief cashier, said. Bank of England banknotes have featured monarchs since Q

March 11, 2026

Paraguay lawmakers approve defense agreement that allows increased US military presence

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday approved a defense agreement allowing the temporary presence of US military and civilian personnel inside its borders, widely seen as a victory for the Trump administration, which has sought to strengthen its presence in Latin America. The Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, was approved by a large majority of lawmakers and now awaits the signature of President Santiago Pena to take effect. Pena, one of Trump’s closest allies i

March 11, 2026

Police say deadly Swiss bus fire could be deliberate

KERZERS, Switzerland (AFP) -- A bus caught fire in western Switzerland Tuesday killing at least six people and injuring five others in what police said may have been a deliberate act. The fire broke out on the bus in the main street of the small town of Kerzers, around 20 kilometers west of the Swiss capital Bern, at about 6:25 p.m. Videos circulating on social media showed flames several meters high bursting out from the windows, and black smoke rising into the sky. The fire "left at least six

March 11, 2026