分类: politics

  • Iran ‘not in danger of collapse’, say US intelligence sources

    Iran ‘not in danger of collapse’, say US intelligence sources

    Recent US intelligence analyses conclude that Iran’s leadership continues to maintain firm control over the nation despite two weeks of concerted US-Israeli military operations. Multiple sources familiar with the assessments indicate that the regime faces no imminent threat of collapse and retains effective command over the Iranian population.

    The intelligence findings, which include a multitude of reports culminating in recent days, present a significant challenge to the Trump administration’s military campaign. This development coincides with President Trump’s announcement to CBS that operations would conclude “soon, very soon,” potentially signaling a costly strategic setback for Washington.

    Democratic senators who received confidential briefings from administration officials reported that the United States lacks a coherent plan for Iran. They revealed that earlier CIA assessments had warned that eliminating Iran’s leadership could precipitate the rise of an even more radical governing faction.

    The military intervention, designated Operation Epic Fury, has thus far resulted in at least seven American military fatalities and 140 injuries, generating substantial criticism from segments of the President’s political base. The operation was justified variously as self-defense against Iran’s nuclear program and as an effort to liberate the Iranian people.

    Compounding strategic challenges, Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical transit route for 20% of global oil shipments—has triggered significant price surges. Failure to dismantle the Islamic Republic administration would likely intensify pressure on the White House.

    Israeli officials similarly expressed skepticism regarding prospects for a public uprising or governmental collapse following the appointment of new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. While some sources indicated Israel’s ultimate objective remains the complete elimination of the Iranian government, they acknowledged this would necessitate ground forces, an option the US has not excluded.

    The administration has conveyed conflicting messages regarding future intentions. One day prior to President Trump’s declaration of an imminent withdrawal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CBS that “This is only just the beginning,” creating ambiguity about US strategic objectives.

  • Former rapper’s fledgling political party sweeps Nepal’s first post-revolt election

    Former rapper’s fledgling political party sweeps Nepal’s first post-revolt election

    KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s political establishment has been dramatically upended by the stunning electoral triumph of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a four-year-old political movement led by former rapper Balendra Shah. Official results released Thursday by Nepal’s electoral commission confirm the party’s overwhelming victory in the nation’s first parliamentary elections since last year’s youth-led uprising.

    The RSP secured a commanding majority in the 275-seat House of Representatives, capturing 125 directly elected seats and an additional 57 through proportional representation. This gives the party a total of 182 seats, far exceeding the 138 needed for a simple majority. The previously dominant Nepali Congress party trailed distantly with just 38 seats.

    Nepal’s electoral system combines direct voting for 165 parliamentary seats with proportional representation allocating the remaining 110 seats based on party vote share. The electoral commission will now formally request party nominations to fill proportional representation seats before presenting the final composition to the president.

    This procedural phase, expected to require several days, will culminate in the convening of the new parliament and the election of a prime minister. With nearly two-thirds of parliamentary seats, RSP leader Balendra Shah—the party’s prime ministerial candidate and 2022 Kathmandu mayor—is positioned to assume leadership.

    The RSP’s remarkable ascent represents a direct challenge to Nepal’s traditional political powers, particularly the Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). The party capitalized on widespread discontent with corruption and governance failures that sparked last year’s protests, which began as opposition to social media restrictions before escalating into full-scale antigovernment demonstrations. The unrest resulted in dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries amid clashes between protesters and security forces.

    Shah emerged as a prominent figure during the 2025 uprising that ultimately toppled former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli’s government. His transition from musical artist to political revolutionary has now culminated in an unprecedented electoral mandate that signals a profound transformation in Nepal’s political paradigm.

  • International court drops investigation into US sanctions on Venezuela

    International court drops investigation into US sanctions on Venezuela

    THE HAGUE, Netherlands — In a significant legal development, the International Criminal Court has terminated its examination of U.S. sanctions against Venezuela, determining insufficient grounds to pursue criminal charges. The decision concludes a preliminary investigation initiated in 2020 following Venezuela’s formal petition alleging American coercive measures constituted crimes against humanity.

    Prosecutors acknowledged that while economic restrictions imposed during the Obama administration and subsequently expanded may have worsened Venezuela’s humanitarian situation, they found inadequate evidence demonstrating the requisite criminal intent to classify sanctions as crimes against humanity. The ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor emphasized this closure remains unrelated to recent military actions involving Venezuelan leadership.

    Simultaneously, the court has progressed with a separate investigation into potential human rights violations by Belarusian authorities. This inquiry, prompted by Lithuania’s referral concerning Belarus’s suppression of political dissent, marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of President Alexander Lukashenko’s government. Although Belarus remains outside the ICC’s jurisdiction, the court asserts authority based on the cross-border nature of alleged offenses.

    The divergent paths of these investigations highlight the ICC’s complex jurisdictional landscape. While Venezuela’s sanctions complaint has been dismissed, the court continues its longstanding examination of alleged crimes committed by Venezuelan security forces during the 2017 anti-government protests.

    These developments occur amid leadership challenges within the ICC, with Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan currently on temporary leave pending separate misconduct allegations. The court’s recent decisions demonstrate its ongoing navigation of geopolitical sensitivities while pursuing accountability for international crimes.

  • NPC deputy calls for national policy to integrate sports and tourism

    NPC deputy calls for national policy to integrate sports and tourism

    Li Chu, Party Secretary of Guilin and deputy to China’s 14th National People’s Congress, has formally advocated for enhanced national policies to accelerate the integrated development of sports, tourism, and rural revitalization initiatives. The proposal draws upon Guilin’s demonstrated success in leveraging its distinctive karst topography to create a synergistic model combining athletic activities with tourism infrastructure.

    Speaking at the ongoing NPC sessions, Deputy Li highlighted how Guangxi’s premier tourist destination has strategically positioned sports as a central catalyst for comprehensive development. The city has constructed over 14,000 specialized sports facilities while innovatively transforming its natural landscapes into competition venues and recreational spaces.

    The integrated approach generates substantial economic benefits through approximately 400 annual public participation events and nearly 30 major international competitions biennially. This sports-tourism nexus has effectively connected urban attractions with countryside resources, stimulating growth in rural homestays, agricultural product sales, and local service industries.

    Li’s policy recommendations include issuing national-level implementation guidelines, establishing dedicated funding mechanisms for outdoor sports infrastructure, and streamlining land use approval processes. These measures would enable regions with comparable geographical advantages to pursue differentiated development strategies while supporting national rural revitalization objectives.

  • Rapper-politician Balendra Shah’s party wins Nepal election

    Rapper-politician Balendra Shah’s party wins Nepal election

    Nepal’s political landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) achieving an unprecedented electoral victory that positions 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah to become the country’s next prime minister.

    The recently concluded parliamentary elections, the first since youth-led protests toppled the previous government in 2022, resulted in the RSP securing 182 seats in the lower house. While falling just two seats short of a supermajority, this represents the most substantial mandate for any single party in Nepal in decades. The established political forces—Nepali Congress with 38 seats and Communist Party of Nepal UML with 25—trailed significantly behind the newcomer party.

    This electoral outcome is particularly remarkable given Nepal’s mixed political system, which combines first-past-the-post and proportional representation methodologies specifically designed to prevent single-party dominance. The RSP’s ascent is nothing short of extraordinary for a party founded merely in 2022, when it placed fourth in that year’s election.

    Shah, whose political experience is limited to his current role as Kathmandu mayor, represents a seismic shift in Nepalese politics. His victory was underscored by a decisive win against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the Jhapa 5 constituency, traditionally considered Oli’s stronghold. In another symbolic defeat, Gagan Thapa, leader of the historically dominant Nepali Congress, lost his seat to an RSP candidate.

    The election, which saw approximately 60% turnout among Nepal’s 19 million eligible voters, reflects widespread demand for change following last year’s protests that began against social media restrictions but escalated into broader demonstrations against political stagnation, unemployment, economic inequality, and nepotism. Tragically, 77 protesters died during the unrest, with a BBC investigation revealing that police were authorized to use lethal force against unarmed demonstrators.

    Government formation is expected to take at least one week as the RSP navigates coalition building, marking the beginning of a new political era in Nepal led by a generation demanding substantive reform.

  • Starmer’s pick of Epstein ‘pal’ as top British envoy haunts prime minister

    Starmer’s pick of Epstein ‘pal’ as top British envoy haunts prime minister

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting political pressure following the disclosure of government documents revealing his deliberate appointment of Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador despite explicit warnings about the former minister’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    The nearly 150 pages of released documentation, representing merely a fraction of the anticipated thousands of pages yet to be made public, detail how Starmer overruled senior advisers who highlighted Mandelson’s ‘reputational risk’ factors. The vetting checklist prominently emphasized Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein—whom he reportedly called his ‘best pal’—and his controversial history in previous Labour governments, including two financial scandals that forced his resignation.

    Then-Cabinet Secretary Simon Case had cautioned that political appointments to diplomatic posts carried greater personal risk for the prime minister than traditional career diplomat selections. Starmer ultimately dismissed Mandelson in September when evidence emerged showing continued contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for sex crimes involving a minor.

    The prime minister now claims Mandelson misled him regarding the depth of their relationship, though released documents have yet to substantiate this assertion due to ongoing police investigations. Mandelson was briefly arrested last month on allegations of transmitting sensitive government information to Epstein over a decade ago, though he faces no sexual misconduct accusations and maintains his innocence.

    Legal experts suggest the document release represents merely ‘the thin end of the wedge,’ with subsequent batches likely to intensify scrutiny of Starmer’s judgment. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of lying to Parliament about the appointment process, while some Labour members have joined calls for his resignation.

    The escalating crisis has been partially overshadowed by Middle Eastern conflicts, with Starmer demonstrating cautious diplomacy regarding U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran. His restrained approach, while criticized by some international partners, appears aligned with British public sentiment regarding limited involvement in foreign conflicts.

  • US military ‘not ready’ to escort tankers through Hormuz Strait: energy secretary

    US military ‘not ready’ to escort tankers through Hormuz Strait: energy secretary

    U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on Thursday that American military forces remain unprepared to provide naval escorts for oil tankers navigating the critical Strait of Hormuz, citing the full concentration of military assets on offensive operations against Iran. This declaration comes amidst escalating tensions following attacks on commercial vessels in the region that have triggered significant volatility in global oil markets.

    The ongoing military confrontation with Iran has created what the International Energy Agency characterizes as the most substantial supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. With approximately one-fifth of worldwide crude shipments typically passing through the strategically vital waterway, the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has propelled oil prices beyond the $100 per barrel threshold.

    President Donald Trump’s administration had previously committed to implementing protective escort services and reinsurance facilities for international shipping companies to stabilize energy markets. However, Secretary Wright clarified that these protective measures cannot be immediately implemented, explaining that all military resources are currently dedicated to neutralizing Iran’s offensive capabilities and the industrial infrastructure supporting them.

    Despite the current limitations, Wright expressed confidence that escort operations would likely commence before the conclusion of the month. His remarks followed a controversial social media post earlier this week that erroneously claimed escort missions had already begun, subsequently retracted by the White House.

    Confronting domestic political pressure over rising gasoline prices, President Trump emphasized through his Truth Social platform that preventing Iranian nuclear weapons development remains his paramount priority, outweighing concerns about energy costs. The administration simultaneously pursued multilateral solutions through the International Energy Agency, securing an unprecedented agreement to release 400 million barrels from strategic petroleum reserves.

    The United States committed 172 million barrels through a swap mechanism that anticipates replenishment of 200 million barrels to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve within one year. Concurrently, the administration granted temporary sanctions waivers for certain Russian oil shipments already en route to China, which Secretary Wright characterized as a pragmatic solution rather than sanctions relief for Moscow.

    These developments occurred alongside the first diplomatic contact between Russian and American officials since the conflict’s inception, with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev describing discussions as productive and noting Washington’s growing recognition of Russian oil’s significance to global market stability.

  • LIVE: Deputies to the 14th NPC take passage interview

    LIVE: Deputies to the 14th NPC take passage interview

    Beijing witnessed a significant political event on Thursday afternoon as deputies of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) participated in scheduled passage interviews at the iconic Great Hall of the People. The event, which commenced at 2:00 PM local time, provided a platform for elected representatives to engage with media and share insights on legislative matters and national development priorities.

    The live broadcast opportunity allowed both domestic and international audiences to witness the proceedings firsthand, highlighting China’s commitment to transparency in its political processes. These interviews occur during the annual legislative sessions where deputies discuss and shape policies that will guide China’s development trajectory.

    Concurrent with this event, several other national developments were reported, including the establishment of four state key laboratories in Macao, China Coast Guard patrols in the South China Sea, and various cultural and scientific activities across the country. These parallel developments demonstrate the multifaceted nature of China’s ongoing progress in political, scientific, and cultural domains.

    The passage interviews represent a crucial communication channel between China’s highest organ of state power and the public, offering insights into the legislative agenda and policy directions that will emerge from the current NPC session.

  • Hungary to declassify security report as Orbán claims Ukraine is illegally funding his opponent

    Hungary to declassify security report as Orbán claims Ukraine is illegally funding his opponent

    BUDAPEST, Hungary — In a dramatic escalation of pre-election tensions, Hungary’s government announced Thursday it would declassify a national security report that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claims will demonstrate illegal Ukrainian financing of his primary political rival. With crucial elections approaching on April 12, Orbán faces the most significant challenge to his leadership from Péter Magyar’s center-right Tisza party, which currently leads in most opinion polls.

    The nationalist leader, who maintains warm relations with the Kremlin, has intensified an aggressive campaign alleging that Ukraine, the European Union, and the opposition Tisza party are conspiring to overthrow his government. During a recent interview on commercial broadcaster ATV, Orbán asserted without providing evidence that “significant” sums had been transferred from Ukraine to support Tisza’s IT development and voter mobilization efforts.

    Gergely Gulyás, Orbán’s chief of staff, confirmed at a Thursday news conference that “the declassification process is underway” and the report would be released “in the foreseeable future.” This development occurs amid growing voter dissatisfaction with Hungary’s stagnant economy, deteriorating social services, and widespread corruption allegations.

    Orbán’s campaign strategy portrays the election as existential for Hungary’s future, warning that a new government would bankrupt the country through support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and potentially send Hungarian youth to fight on the front lines. The government has employed sophisticated disinformation tactics, including AI-generated imagery and publicly funded billboards featuring a manipulated image of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a sinister smile and the caption: “We won’t let Zelenskyy have the last laugh!”

    Meanwhile, Magyar, a 44-year-old lawyer and former Fidesz party insider, has countered with warnings about potential Russian intelligence interference aimed at securing Orbán’s victory. The Tisza party has denied all allegations of Ukrainian financing.

    Hungary’s government has consistently opposed EU financial and military assistance to Ukraine, vowing to veto any steps toward Ukrainian EU accession. Recent actions include blocking a €90 billion EU loan package for Kyiv and vetoing new sanctions against Russia, retaliation for interrupted Russian oil shipments through Ukraine.

    The tensions escalated further last week when masked Hungarian counter-terrorism commandos detained seven Ukrainian state bank employees and seized $82 million in cash and gold during a routine transfer from Austria to Ukraine. Although the employees were deported after more than a day in detention, Hungary retained the assets, prompting Ukraine’s foreign minister to accuse Hungary of “state terrorism” and “taking hostages.”

  • Questions mount for Hegseth over possible US involvement in strike on Iranian school

    Questions mount for Hegseth over possible US involvement in strike on Iranian school

    A bipartisan crisis is unfolding in Washington as nearly all Senate Democrats have formally challenged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding a devastating missile strike in Minab, Iran, that reportedly killed 168 civilians—including approximately 110 children—according to Iranian officials. The incident occurred during a joint US-Israeli military operation initiated on February 28th.

    Multiple US media outlets, including CBS News, report that preliminary military investigations suggest American forces were ‘likely responsible’ for unintentionally striking a primary school adjacent to an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military base. While no final conclusion has been reached, expert analysis of verified video evidence indicates the weapon used was a Tomahawk cruise missile—a system exclusively operated by US forces in the region.

    The congressional letter, signed by all but one Senate Democrat, poses detailed inquiries about target verification procedures and potential intelligence failures. Legislators specifically question whether outdated information—possibly misidentifying the school compound as an active military site—led to the tragic miscalculation. The correspondence also references Secretary Hegseth’s recent controversial remarks dismissing ‘stupid rules of engagement,’ demanding clarification on compliance with international laws governing armed conflict.

    Senator Gary Peters, an Armed Services Committee member who endorsed the letter, characterized the event as ‘a horrific tragedy’ requiring urgent factual resolution before determining subsequent actions. The political divide emerged clearly as no Republican senators signed the document, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman abstained despite supporting military action generally.

    Pentagon representatives confirmed they would respond directly to the senators’ concerns through standard congressional correspondence channels. When pressed by BBC journalists, Secretary Hegseth maintained that the US does not intentionally target civilians and that the investigation remains ongoing.

    The strike represents potentially one of the worst single-instance civilian casualty events in decades of US Middle Eastern engagements if American involvement is confirmed. Satellite imagery and verified videos reveal extensive damage to civilian infrastructure including hospitals and cultural landmarks since operations began.

    Former CIA Director and US Central Command Commander General David Petraeus acknowledged the likelihood of US responsibility based on weapon system evidence, though he cautioned about reviewing full investigative findings. He suggested outdated intelligence might have failed to reflect the school’s presence near a former naval compound.

    Iran has retaliated with attacks on Israeli and US-allied Gulf states, expanding targeting to include energy facilities and non-military sites. Israeli officials told the Washington Post they had no awareness of operations in the strike area.

    President Trump, initially suggesting without evidence that Iran might have conducted the strike, later stated he would ‘live with’ whatever conclusions the military investigation produces.