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Iran’s supreme leader on Tuesday pushed back against US criticism of the country’s nuclear program, saying that Tehran won’t seek permission from anyone to enrich uranium and calling American statements “nonsense.” “They say, ‘We won’t allow Iran to enrich uranium.’ That’s way out of line,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during a memorial for late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last year, AP reports. “No one in Iran is waiting for their permission. The Islamic Republic has its own policies and direction — and it will stick to them.” Khamenei’s remarks came as indirect talks between Iran and the US reportedly continue, though he expressed doubt about their outcome. Trump and US administration used power for massacre in Gaza: Ayatollah Khamenei “Yes, indirect negotiations were held during Raisi’s time too, just like now,” he said. “But they didn’t go anywhere — and we don’t expect much from the current ones either. Who knows what will happen.” His comments reflect Tehran’s growing frustration with the stalled nuclear discussions, as well as the broader tensions that have defined US-Iran relations in recent years. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told the state-run IRNA news agency that “no definitive decision has been made about the next round of negotiations,” adding that “the Islamic Republic of Iran is reviewing the matter while considering the US side’s contradictory and constantly changing positions.” IRNA also reported that Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy foreign minister, said that Tehran had received a proposal regarding the next round of indirect talks with Washington and was currently reviewing it.

Israel has begun allowing limited shipments of food and medicine into the Gaza Strip after more than two and a half months of a total import ban on the enclave’s two million Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision to ease the blockade came following pressure from unnamed allies, aiming to shore up support for Israel’s latest major offensive against Hamas, reports AP. United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups, which had run out of aid supplies weeks ago, welcomed the move. However, they stressed that the aid delivered so far falls far short of what's needed. According to the UN, only five aid trucks have entered Gaza since Monday, in contrast to the roughly 600 trucks per day that were passing through during a previous ceasefire. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached its worst point in 19 months of war. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in recent Israeli airstrikes, and the territory has been facing critical shortages of food and medical supplies. Experts have warned that continued restrictions, along with ongoing military operations, could push Gaza into famine. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading authority on global hunger crises, estimates that nearly half a million Palestinians are at risk of starvation, while another one million are struggling to get enough food. UK, France, and Canada warn Israel of consequences over Gaza offensive Israel imposed the complete ban on March 2, saying it was intended to pressure Hamas into agreeing to a ceasefire deal more favourable to Israel than the agreement signed in January. However, two weeks later, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes, breaking the truce and killing hundreds. Israel claims that Hamas diverts humanitarian aid for military use, though it has not provided evidence to support this accusation. The UN says there are mechanisms in place that prevent any significant diversion of aid. Israel is also trying to pressure Hamas to release more of the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack, in which militants killed around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducted 251. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which says most of the victims are women and children, though it does not specify how many were civilians or fighters.

The European Union on Tuesday agreed to impose fresh sanctions on Russia, notably targeting almost 200 ships from the shadow fleet illicitly transporting oil to skirt Western restrictions put in place over Moscow's war in Ukraine. The 27-nation bloc targeted 189 ships in all, and imposed asset freezes and travel bans on several officials as well as on a number of Russian companies. The measures were endorsed by EU foreign ministers in Brussels, reports AP. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that while President Vladimir “Putin feigns interest in peace, more sanctions are in the works. Russia’s actions and those who enable Russia face severe consequences.” Russia uses its “shadow fleet ” of ships to transport oil and gas, or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain. The EU has now targeted almost 350 of the ships in total. The new measures are not obviously linked to Russian delays in agreeing to a ceasefire. Work on the measures began in the days after the last package was finalized three months ago. Ukrainian officials have said that the shadow fleet involves around 500 aging ships of uncertain ownership and safety practices that are dodging sanctions and keeping the oil revenue coming. UK, EU to announce new deals and renew relations five years after Brexit Ratings agency S&P Global and the Kyiv School of Economics Institute, a think tank, have put the number at over 400 ships that can transport oil, or products made from crude such as diesel fuel and gasoline. Vessels from the shadow fleet have also come under suspicion of damaging undersea cables, particularly in the Baltic Sea. Finnish police on December 26 seized the Eagle S, a tanker they said was part of the dark fleet, on suspicion it used its anchor to damage the Estlink 2 undersea power cable that supplies electricity from Finland to Estonia. The EU also said that it targeted people and companies, including an insurer, that make it possible for the shadow fleet to operate, hitting interests in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Hong Kong. In parallel, the UK targeted the shadow fleet in a raft of 100 new sanctions that it said are aimed at “ramping up pressure” on the Kremlin. In a statement Tuesday, Britain’s Foreign Office said the sanctions will hit entities supporting Russia’s military, energy exports and information war, as well as financial institutions helping to fund its war against Ukraine. It added that the sanctions will target the supply chains of Russian weapons, including Iskander missiles which have been fired into civilian areas in Ukraine during the war. The UK will also sanction 18 more ships in the “shadow fleet” carrying Russian oil.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan sharply criticized the country's leadership, accusing it of lacking morality and turning the country into a “pariah state”.  “Israel is on the way to becoming a pariah state, like South Africa was, if we don’t return to acting like a sane country,” Golan, who previously served as the military’s deputy chief of staff, said in comments carried by The Times of Israel. “And a sane country does not fight against civilians, does not kill children as a hobby and does not give itself the aim of expelling populations,” he said. “This government is full of vengeful types with no morals and no ability to run a country in a time of crisis. This endangers our existence.” UK, France, and Canada warn Israel of consequences over Gaza offensive Golan’s remarks have been slammed by several Israeli legislators, including right-wing Avigdor Liberman, who accused him of making “false statements” that endanger Israeli soldiers. Netanyahu also accused Golan of “wild incitement against our heroic soldiers”. Source: Al Jazeera  

The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have issued a stern warning to Israel, saying they will take "concrete actions" if Israel continues what they described as a severe escalation of its military campaign in Gaza. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in urging Israel to "stop its military operations" and to "immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza." Since March 2, no food, fuel, or medicine has been allowed into the enclave, a situation the United Nations previously said was having a "disastrous toll" on Palestinians. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the three nations of giving a "huge prize" to Hamas in the ongoing conflict. On Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel would permit a "basic amount of food" into Gaza after an 11-week blockade, but affirmed intentions to "control all of Gaza." The three Western leaders criticized this response as "wholly inadequate," warning that "the denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law." They further described the humanitarian suffering in Gaza as "intolerable." The joint statement also condemned "the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate." They stressed that "permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law." Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian relief chief and a former British diplomat, noted that the number of aid trucks approved to enter Gaza amounted to only a "drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed." The leaders acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense but said: "We have always supported Israel's right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate." Starmer, Macron, and Carney also called for the immediate release of hostages still held by Hamas following the "heinous attack" on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The conflict was sparked by the Hamas-led assault that left approximately 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Of the hostages, around 58 remain in Gaza, with up to 23 believed to still be alive. According to Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas, over 53,000 Palestinians have died in Israel's military operations since the war began. In their joint statement, the UK, France, and Canada reaffirmed their support for a ceasefire and for a "two-state solution," which envisions a sovereign Palestinian state coexisting alongside Israel. Netanyahu pushed back, stating: "By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed and by demanding a Palestinian state, the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities." He also urged "all European leaders" to adopt former US President Donald Trump's approach to resolving the conflict. Source: BBC

A man suspected of attacking and injuring five people outside a bar in Bielefeld, a city in western Germany, has been arrested following an intensive two-day search, the German news agency dpa reported on Tuesday. Herbert Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, confirmed the arrest, stating, “The detailed work paid off and we were able to arrest the surprised perpetrator.” The suspect was apprehended late Monday evening in Heiligenhaus, a town near Düsseldorf in western Germany.  Police identify victim and gunman in Las Vegas gym shooting Police identified the suspect as a 35-year-old Syrian national residing in Germany. The attack took place early Sunday morning when five men, aged between 22 and 27, were assaulted with a sharp object outside a downtown Bielefeld bar. Four of the victims sustained serious injuries. Reul described the incident as a “shocking crime” and noted that investigators had pursued every possible lead using all available resources. He added that authorities are now focused on determining the motive behind the attack.  Ulanhad Volcano Cluster boosts rural revitalization and cultural tourism in North China

Israeli strikes overnight and into Tuesday have killed at least 60 people across the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel has launched another major offensive in the territory in recent days, saying it aims to return dozens of hostages held by Hamas and destroy the militant group.  Israel eases Gaza blockade to allow minimal food supplies amid renewed military offensive On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began allowing a small number of aid trucks into Gaza for the first time in 2 1/2 months, saying he had been pressured to lift a blockade on the territory's 2 million Palestinians that had sparked fears of famine. But U.N. agencies said the handful of trucks that entered were nowhere near enough to meet the massive need for food, medicine and other supplies. Some 600 trucks a day had entered during a ceasefire earlier this year. Two strikes in northern Gaza hit a family home and a school-turned-shelter, killing at least 22 people, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. A strike in the central city of Deir al-Balah killed 13 people, and another in the nearby built-up Nuseirat refugee camp killed 15, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Two strikes in the southern city of Khan Younis killed 10 people, according to Nasser Hospital. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths because the group operates in densely populated areas.  Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 66 people, hospitals and medics say The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. The militants are still holding 58 captives, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel’s retaliatory offensive, which has destroyed large swaths of Gaza, has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. The war has displaced around 90% of its population, most of them multiple times.

The person killed in a shooting at a Las Vegas fitness center last week was a longtime employee who had no known connection to the shooter, police said Monday. Edgar Quinonez, 31, of Las Vegas, was shot and killed Friday at the Las Vegas Athletic Club, police said. Arriving officers fired at the suspected shooter, 34-year-old Daniel Ortega, as he exited the gym after firing 24 rounds, police said. Ortega, a gym member, died of gunshot wounds, according to police. Three other people were injured at the gym on the city’s west side as gunfire erupted. They were transported to local hospitals, with one in critical condition. Their conditions weren't released on Monday. Officials are still investigating a motive, saying they have found no connection between the two men.  Residents dig out from tornado damage after storms kill 28 in Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia Jamie Prosser, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department assistant sheriff, said at a media briefing on Monday that Ortega entered the gym with a rifle on Friday afternoon. She said he approached an employee at the front desk and paced around before briefly exchanging words with another employee. Then he lifted the rifle and shot the employee as he fled into the gym, she said. Ortega followed and continued firing, Prosser said, and at some point Ortega returned to the lobby and fired until the weapon malfunctioned. An arriving officer fired at Ortega when he opened the entrance door and he was shot by officers as he left the building with the rifle. He died at a nearby hospital, police said.  Severe weather leaves at least 27 dead, including 18 in Kentucky She said Ortega worked out at the gym but at this time there was no known connection to the victim.

Australia’s central bank on Tuesday reduced its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage for a second time this year, to 3.85% after inflation fell within a target range. The Reserve Bank of Australia reduced its cash rate from 4.1%. The reduction from 4.35% at its February board meeting was Australia’s first rate cut since October 2020. ​​​​​​​Australian prime minister names new Cabinet that drops Israel critic The rate cut was anticipated, although expectations had declined slightly after the United States and China agreed last week to cut back recent tariff hikes for 90 days, reviving stalled trade between the world two biggest economies. The bank adjusts interest rates to steer inflation toward a target band of between 2% and 3%. During the March quarter, annual inflation was 2.4%. The trimmed mean –- a gauge of underlying inflation which is the bank’s preferred measure –- was 2.9%. Inflation was also steady at 2.4% in the previous three months. But the underlying figure, which strips out the smallest and largest values, was 3.2% in the last quarter of 2024. Inflation has gradually declined after it peaked at 7.8% in the last quarter of 2022.  Australia to hold general elections on May 3, With inflation and housing crisis key issues Unemployment inched up to 4.1% in January-March from 4.0% in the December quarter but remains relatively low. Economists fear a shortage of workers could fuel further inflation.

Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of China, is driving forward its industrial development by embracing scientific and technological innovation, fostering a more advanced, efficient, and sustainable industrial landscape, according to Li Peiyan, director of the cyberspace administration of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This strategic approach aims to enhance competitiveness and ensure long-term economic growth in the region, she said. Li said this while speaking at the launching ceremony of the "Travelogue of China" organised by the Cyberspace Administration of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) along with Global Times Online. Ulanhad Volcano Cluster boosts rural revitalization and cultural tourism in North China Inner Mongolia, spanning 1.183 million square kilometers and home to 24 million people of diverse ethnic backgrounds, boasts a rich history, vibrant culture, abundant resources, and diverse ecosystems. United in purpose, its people are forging a new path of high-quality development that emphasizes ecological preservation and green growth for the new era.   By harnessing scientific and technological innovation, Inner Mongolia is overcoming resource limitations and transforming its industrial landscape through sustainable, green development, she added.