World

Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini adopted a constitution based on the Shia sect, effectively rendering all non-Shia citizens second-class. Concurrently, he initiated a programme to 'export the revolution', leading to the creation of ideologically driven Shia militias across the region. These militias have been implicated in significant bloodshed in several Arab countries, contributing to ongoing regional instability.

The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has entered its third week, spilling across the region. Each round of retaliation deepens a cycle that threatens to pull the wider Middle East into prolonged instability. The question of how this conflict might end is becoming increasingly urgent, as a decisive military victory is unclear and negotiations are fraught with difficulty.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title has been awarded to Morocco, stripping it from Senegal. This decision came after CAF's Appeal Board ruled on January 18 that Morocco, the defeated finalists, should be declared the tournament winners. The final, which Senegal won 1-0 in extra time, was delayed for 14 minutes when Senegalese players and staff returned to the dressing room in protest against the awarding of an injury-time penalty to Morocco in the second half.

The governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, have simultaneously declared a temporary pause in hostilities during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan Eid. This move aims to foster peace during the sacred period, highlighting the involvement of regional mediators in addressing ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Israel escalated its conflict with Iran by striking the critical South Pars gas field on Wednesday, marking a new phase in a war that began on February 28 when the United States and Israel allegedly bombed Iran. Iran retaliated by targeting energy facilities across the Gulf region, including a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Qatar's Ras Laffan plant early Thursday, in a move that threatens to deepen regional instability and disrupt global energy markets.

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel, in flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter, launched Operation Epic Fury. The attack caught Iran off guard, resulting in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. However, the US and Israeli objective of regime change was not achieved – the Iranian government, though battered, did not surrender.

The United Kingdom rolled out the red carpet for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years. The last such visit was in 1989 by General Ibrahim Babangida. Since then, relations between Abuja and London have evolved significantly. Tinubu aims to leverage this visit to strengthen historical ties and expand economic interests, but the trip occurs against a backdrop of severe domestic challenges in Nigeria, including rising poverty and security threats.

Washington, March 12, 2026 – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, in the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment presented to the Senate Intelligence Committee, listed Pakistan alongside Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as countries with advancing missile capabilities that could eventually put US territory within reach. Gabbard stated that these five nations are “researching and developing an array of novel, advanced or traditional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads, that put our homeland within range”.

Warning strikes have brought public transport to a standstill in several German states, causing significant disruption for commuters in major cities including Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt. In the Bavarian capital Munich, buses and trams remained in depots, while North Rhine-Westphalia experienced its second local transport strike this week. In Saxony-Anhalt, industrial action in many areas is set to continue through Sunday, though regional and suburban rail services operated by Deutsche Bahn and other companies were not affected.

South Korea and Japan are confronting uncomfortable questions about their mutual defense obligations as the United States seeks support from its allies in the war on Iran, now nearly three weeks in and escalating daily. US President Donald Trump earlier this week urged the United Kingdom, China, France, Japan, and South Korea to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained de facto closed since Washington launched its war with ally Israel on Tehran on March 28. Trump later backtracked, declaring on social media that the US “no longer ‘needs’” NATO assistance, but observers note that allies may still face pressure from the American regime.

A court in Shinyanga, Tanzania, has quashed the death sentence of Lemi Limbu, a woman with severe intellectual disabilities. Limbu, now in her early 30s, was convicted of murdering her daughter in 2015 and spent over a decade in prison awaiting execution. On March 4, the court declared she can appeal, but a retrial date has not been set, leaving her incarcerated while legal proceedings continue.

The Iranian national football team is continuing preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 finals and has no intention of pulling out of the tournament but does intend to "boycott" matches in the United States, football chief Mehdi Taj has insisted. Iran was one of the first nations to qualify for the finals, but its participation has been in doubt since the conflict between the Islamic Republic and the United States began in late February.