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A solemn gathering was organized in Madrid to remember the victims of the latest Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon. Participants, including members of the Lebanese diaspora and local supporters, assembled in the city’s central square, lighting candles and holding signs that expressed grief and solidarity. Key messages emphasized the human cost of the conflict and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. While specific organizers were not named, the event underscored a broader European concern over the escalating violence in the region. The vigil also served as a platform for attendees to voice demands for diplomatic efforts aimed at protecting civilians and restoring stability in the Middle East.

An Iranian rabbi has made public statements regarding the alleged destruction of a synagogue in Tehran by Israel. This incident has brought renewed attention to the complex and often strained relationship between Iran and Israel.The rabbi's account provides a unique perspective on the situation, emphasizing the religious and cultural implications of such an act. While details remain scarce, the incident underscores the longstanding geopolitical tensions between the two countries.

Ali Majed Hamadneh, 23, was killed after Israeli settlers opened fire during a raid on the West Bank village of Deir Jarir, north‑east of Ramallah, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on Saturday. He was transported to the Palestine Medical Complex in critical condition and later succumbed to his gunshot wounds.The Palestinian news agency Wafa described the attack as carried out by "armed colonists, under the protection of Israeli forces," who entered the village from its western entrance and fired on residents. The Israeli military has not issued an immediate comment.This raid occurs just two days after Israel approved 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move denounced by the Palestinian Presidency, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union as a breach of international law.Since assuming office in 2022, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right‑wing government has sanctioned at least 102 settlements, a marked increase compared with previous administrations. All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law.Violence in the West Bank has escalated sharply since Israel's war in Gaza began in October 2023, and a further spike in deadly settler attacks has been reported since the United States‑Israel conflict with Iran started at the end of February, according to Palestinian authorities and the United Nations.While settler assaults have persisted for years, the recent surge has drawn criticism from influential rabbis, settler leaders, and Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir, who labeled the attacks "morally and ethically unacceptable."

Iran's economy is struggling to recover from a lethal mix of local mismanagement, corruption, sanctions, and two major wars in less than a year. The ceasefire announced overnight into Wednesday has brought some relief, with more people returning to work and shops reopening in Tehran's Grand Bazaar.However, sales remain slow compared to before the war, and merchants are facing significant challenges, including 20-30 percent price increases for products due to inflation. The near-total internet shutdown imposed since the start of the war on February 28 has caused countless income streams to be wiped out for families trying to survive.The government has promised to provide support to digital businesses, but it is unclear how they will operate while their customers remain offline. Lay-offs are widespread, with technology firms only signing contracts spanning several months, major carmakers laying off thousands of workers, and numerous journalists being let go by state-run and private sector media outlets.The situation for the embattled Iranian economy could still get worse, as the deepening impact of attacks against civilian infrastructure will likely become more apparent over the coming weeks and months. Iran's top steel factories, petrochemical manufacturers, aluminium producers, airports, and civilian aircraft have been bombed and put out of commission by the US and Israel.It would take Iran years to rebuild even if the war ended today, and that is while the country faced a huge budget crunch even before the war, and still has no prospects of lifting the harsh sanctions imposed by the US and the United Nations over its nuclear programme in order to boost foreign investments.

Lebanon is observing a period of mourning following a tragic incident where an Israeli strike resulted in the loss of several security forces personnel. The incident has sparked widespread grief and condemnation across the region. Details about the exact number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the strike are still emerging. The Lebanese government and various international bodies have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and called for restraint in the volatile region.

Libya has taken a significant step towards economic stability with the approval of its first unified budget in over a decade. The Central Bank of Libya confirmed that both the eastern-based House of Representatives (HoR) and the Tripoli-based High Council of State have endorsed the budget. This development is seen as a rare moment of cooperation in a country divided by conflict since the 2014 civil war. The unified budget was signed in the capital, Tripoli, where the internationally recognized Government of National Unity is based under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Governor Naji Issa described the agreement as a 'clear declaration that Libya is capable of overcoming its differences when a unified vision for its future is forged.' Libya has remained split since the 2014 civil war, which created rival administrations in the east and west. The last time the country operated under a single national budget was in 2013. The deal brings together institutions that have long competed for authority, with representatives from both sides signing the agreement. Despite this breakthrough, political divisions remain entrenched. In the east, forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar maintain control over large parts of the country, including key oil-producing regions. The timing of the agreement is significant, given Libya's growing importance in global energy markets. Demand for its crude has increased amid disruptions linked to the Israel-US war on Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Libya's geographic position offers a critical advantage, as oil shipments from its ports reach European refineries quickly and avoid the risks associated with Gulf routes. Its light, sweet crude also meets the needs of European refiners facing ongoing supply challenges. This development signals a shift towards more formal cooperation, even as Libya's political fragmentation persists.

Following a recent policy shift, Israel has eased the restrictions that limited Christian access to Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The change permits believers to once again visit the revered site for worship and pilgrimage. The relaxation of these measures marks a significant development in the nation’s approach to religious freedom, potentially improving relations with Christian communities worldwide. Authorities have not disclosed detailed timelines for the new access guidelines, but the immediate effect is a renewed flow of pilgrims to the historic cathedral.

The United States and Iran have initiated direct talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, in an effort to bring an end to their six-week conflict. These face-to-face discussions, confirmed by the White House, follow a recent fragile ceasefire agreement and separate bilateral meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The US delegation, led by US Vice President JD Vance, includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. The Iranian delegation, comprising over 70 people, is headed by parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to Iranian state media, the talks proceeded after Iranian preconditions were met, including a reduction in Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Iran had insisted on the inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire and the lifting of US sanctions as prerequisites for the negotiations. Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif expressed hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region. Despite earlier assertions from Tehran that they would not engage without commitments on Lebanon's inclusion and US sanctions, the negotiations have moved forward. Sources indicate some progress on basic conditions, including the need for a ceasefire in Lebanon, with reports of a possible understanding to limit strikes to southern Lebanon. There are also indications of potential movement on the unfreezing of Iranian assets. US President Donald Trump posted on social media that the only reason Iranian officials were alive was to negotiate a deal, stating that Iran had no cards other than short-term extortion. Vance expressed optimism about a positive outcome but warned that the negotiating team would not be receptive if Iran tried to play them.

The British government announced that it is putting on hold a bill that would return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after President Donald Trump signaled a lack of US support for the arrangement.A UK spokesperson told Reuters and AFP that the deal would only move forward with American backing, stating, "We have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support." The statement added that the islands, particularly Diego Garcia, remain a critical military asset for both nations.Last May, London and Port Louis unveiled a plan under which Britain would cede full sovereignty of the 60‑plus islands to Mauritius while retaining a 99‑year lease on Diego Garcia to preserve the US‑run base that anchors American power in the Indian Ocean.Trump dismissed the proposal in January as an "act of great stupidity," arguing that relinquishing the archipelago would undermine the strategic partnership. In response, the UK reiterated that the base’s long‑term security is the primary reason for the agreement and that it continues to engage with both Washington and Mauritius.At an Indian Ocean conference in Mauritius, Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful pledged that his government would "spare no effort" to pursue every diplomatic and legal avenue to complete the decolonisation of the Chagos archipelago, calling the issue a matter of justice.After an initial softening of tone following a February conversation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump later resumed his criticism on Truth Social, labeling the cession a "big mistake" and a "blight on our Great Ally." The dispute has unfolded against a backdrop of strained US‑UK relations over the ongoing US‑Israel conflict in Iran and the UK's leadership of a 30‑nation coalition protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz without US participation.Former senior civil servant Simon McDonald told BBC Radio that Trump’s hostility has forced the agreement into a "deep freeze," noting that when the US president is openly opposed, the British government must reassess its position.Britain has administered the Chagos Islands since 1814, even after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s. The Diego Garcia base has been pivotal in US operations in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. The displaced Chagossian community continues to seek compensation, and a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion recommended that the archipelago be returned to Mauritius.