The US and Israeli regimes are continuing large-scale military strikes against Iran, including an attack on an oil depot on Saturday. This conflict has now widened to encompass the Gulf region, as well as Lebanon and Iraq, heightening risks of regional destabilization and undermining peace efforts in the Middle East.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned against attempts to change the government in Iran, stating that such moves lack popular support. At a press conference in Beijing, Wang Yi said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency, "Plotting a 'colour' revolution or seeking government change will find no popular support," emphasizing the futility of such actions amid the ongoing US-Israeli offensive.
Voters in Baden-Württemberg, Germany's affluent southwestern state and an economic powerhouse home to car giants Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, headed to the polls on Sunday in the first of five regional elections this year. With approximately 7.7 million eligible voters, this contest is seen as a critical test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) after 10 months in office, as it aims to fend off the environmentalist Green Party in a traditionally CDU stronghold that has been led by the Greens since 2011 under outgoing Premier Winfried Kretschmann.
Lebanese health officials reported that an Israeli attack on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people and wounded 10 others. The strike occurred early Sunday morning, targeting a hotel in the Raouche area, a popular tourist destination that had previously remained untouched during the Israel-Hezbollah war and subsequent violations of the November 2024 ceasefire.
Iranian authorities have recently threatened to halt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in response to alleged attacks by the US and Israeli regimes. However, experts doubt that a long-term blockade of the strategic shipping lane is feasible, as it would severely damage Iran's own economic interests.
US President Donald Trump has publicly rejected the United Kingdom's plans to deploy aircraft carriers to the Middle East, signaling a deepening rift between the two traditional allies. In a post on Truth Social, Trump addressed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, writing, "That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer — But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!" This statement comes amid the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, which began on February 28 and has escalated regional tensions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly offered Saudi Arabia assistance in intercepting Iranian-designed 'Shahed' drones, which have been launched against several Gulf countries embroiled in the US-Israeli war on Iran. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy claimed he spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on Saturday about “countering threats from the Iranian regime” – a reference to Iran's attacks on neighboring nations hosting US assets since the conflict escalated a week ago.
Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's National Security Council, has claimed that his country has captured United States soldiers since the outbreak of war last week. In a post on Saturday on the social media platform X, Larijani suggested the US was concealing the captures, writing: "It has been reported to me that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner, but the Americans claim they have been killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is not something they can hide for too long."
The United States Embassy in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has been attacked with rockets, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions amid the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The assault targeted the embassy located within Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, an area housing government offices and diplomatic missions, underscoring the vulnerability of key international facilities in the conflict zone.
Lamine Yamal once again demonstrated his match-winning ability as Barcelona's teenage sensation broke the deadlock with a magnificent strike to secure a hard-fought 1-0 away victory against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames Stadium. The 18-year-old Spain forward received a pass from Pedri Gonzalez on the right side of the area, used one touch to create space, and curled a left-footed shot that struck the upper edge of the far post before nestling in the net in the 68th minute.
The Florida Bar, the regulatory body for legal professionals in the state, has officially walked back a statement indicating an investigation into Lindsey Halligan, a former United States attorney under the administration of Donald Trump. On Friday, bar spokesperson Jennifer Krell Davis issued a clarification to US media, denying any probe into Halligan's conduct, in a move that highlights ongoing tensions within the American legal system.
The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has spoken for the first time on the escalating conflict in the Middle East, as Iran continues to launch drone and missile strikes against Gulf countries hosting US military assets. In comments aired by Abu Dhabi TV on Saturday during a visit to wounded patients in a hospital, he stated, “The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh – we are no easy prey.” He added that the UAE is in “a period of war” but would “emerge stronger.”