World

In Tehran's Resalat district, a mother stands by the rubble of her daughter's flattened apartment, crying out for help that never came in time. She waited for days as rescue workers struggled with limited manpower, but her daughter and granddaughter were later found dead under the debris, while the husband survived. This poignant scene underscores the human cost of a conflict that has escalated over the past month, with the United States and Israel allegedly targeting sites linked to the Iranian government.

Mexican authorities reported on Thursday that an oil spill from an unidentified vessel and two natural sources in the Gulf of Mexico has spread to seven nature reserves, covering an area of more than 600 square kilometers. This finding comes after weeks of controversy in Mexico over the handling of the spill, which was first reported in early March off the coasts of Veracruz and Tabasco states.

A federal judge in California, Rita Lin, has temporarily blocked directives from former US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that ordered all government agencies to immediately stop using tools from the artificial intelligence company Anthropic. In her order, Judge Lin stated that the government was attempting to "cripple Anthropic" and "chill public debate" due to the company's concerns over how its technology is being utilized by the US Department of Defense.

United States President Donald Trump, when speaking about Russia's military aid to Iran, assessed it as "a bit". In an interview with Fox News on March 13, he stated that Moscow "might be helping them a bit". The next day, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi laconically noted that military cooperation with Moscow was "good".

A San Francisco judge, Rita Lin, issued a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration's move to label artificial intelligence company Anthropic as a "supply chain risk to national security." This order will take effect in seven days, giving the government time to appeal.

Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old resident of Barcelona, was left paraplegic due to injuries sustained when she attempted to take her own life in 2022. She initiated a protracted legal process to lawfully obtain the right to euthanasia, aiming to end her severe physical and psychological suffering.

Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has directly pressured Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, to testify about her "close personal and business ties" to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a letter obtained by the BBC. The letter, sent on Thursday, cites recently released US Department of Justice files that purportedly reveal new details of Ferguson's relationship with Epstein, setting a two-week deadline for her response by April 9, 2026.

In Nepal, 35-year-old reformist Balendra Shah was sworn in as prime minister on Friday, assuming the country's most powerful office. He swept last month's general elections on pledges to create jobs and restore political stability. A day before the ceremony, Shah released a rap song on social media, garnering millions of views and highlighting his appeal to the youth-driven movement that propelled him to power.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an automatic rifle as they signed a friendship treaty in Pyongyang, according to state media reports. The two leaders, both key supporters of Russia's war in Ukraine, agreed to cooperate more closely and resist pressure from the West, highlighting a deepening alliance between heavily-sanctioned states.

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, has been sworn in as Nepal's prime minister following a landslide victory in the country's first elections since last year's youth-led protests. The 35-year-old Shah's rise marks a significant shift in Nepali politics, with his promise of change resonating among an electorate angry at corruption, nepotism, and elite rule, in a vote that came after widespread unrest.

The US Treasury Department has announced that Donald Trump is set to become the first sitting president to have his signature appear on American banknotes. Trump's signature will feature alongside that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on new dollar bills, a move the department purportedly claims will mark the nation's 250th anniversary. This unprecedented step breaks with longstanding tradition, where only treasury officials' signatures have historically been used.

Iran's Red Crescent is conducting search and rescue operations for survivors "trapped under the rubble" following US-Israeli strikes on the capital, Tehran, and a deadly assault on the city of Qom. On Friday, air raids targeted three residential houses in Qom, killing six people, according to local media reports. Qom's deputy governor told the Fars News Agency that the number of injured remains unknown, highlighting the ongoing chaos and human toll of the attacks.