#Moscow is currently considering whether it should proactively stop supplying energy resources to the European market, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"As far as the order from the President [of Russia Vladimir Putin] to consider the possibility of an early withdrawal from European gas markets is concerned, this issue is under consideration, requiring a fairly in-depth analysis," he told a briefing.

The energy market is currently experiencing serious turmoil due to the war around Iran, Peskov noted. "And, of course, these upheavals make it difficult for everyone to predict market trends. Therefore, an in-depth analysis is currently underway, considering all the specifics of the current situation," he added.

Putin said earlier that the Russian government had been tasked with assessing the feasibility and advisability of halting energy supplies to the European market, adding that starting April 25, EU countries planned to impose additional restrictions on the purchase of Russian hydrocarbons, including LNG, up to a complete ban on such supplies in 2027.

In this regard, it may be more advantageous for Russia not to wait until the door is ostentatiously slammed in its face, but to redirect supplies to more interesting destinations now, Putin noted.

#UNICEF says it's investigating Israel’s allegations of smuggled tobacco in a #Gaza aid shipment

Luigi Mangione's lawyers seek to delay his state and federal trials.

NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione’s lawyers asked a judge on Wednesday to postpone his federal trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson until early next year and said they will seek to have his state murder trial delayed until September.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, Mangione’s lawyers said that the current schedule -- the state trial in June and the federal trial in September -- would put him “in the position of needing to prepare for two complicated and serious trials at the same time.”

They asked Garnett to delay the federal trial until January 2027 so that they can have an opportunity to ask the state trial judge, Gregory Carro, to reschedule the start of that case from June 8 to Sept. 8. Mangione has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

Carro previously raised the possibility of moving the state trial to September -- but only if federal prosecutors appealed Garnett’s decision barring them from seeking the death penalty. They declined to do so, leaving the June state trial and September federal trial dates intact.

Keeping the current schedule would violate Mangione’s constitutional rights, his lawyers argued.

Among other concerns, they said, preparations for jury selection in the federal case would overlap with the state trial, limiting Mangione’s ability to review questionnaires filled out by hundreds of potential jurors -- infringing on his right to participate in his own defence.

Back-to-back trials would also rob Mangione of his right to effective assistance of counsel, his lawyers said, because they would be forced to prepare for the federal trial while simultaneously defending him in court at the state trial.

Former Snowbird pilot's career 'destroyed' by cancelled passport over work in #China.

A former captain with Canada’s Snowbirds claims his passport was wrongfully cancelled after working for a pilot training company that has been targeted by the U.S. government as a “significant enabler of the Chinese air and naval forces.”

Jayson Miles-Ingram says in a notice of appeal filed in the Federal Court that he “proudly and honourably” served as a pilot with the Canadian Armed Forces for nearly 21 years.

Miles-Ingram says he worked in Dubai as a flight instructor for more than a decade after retiring from the Forces, and moved to China in 2022 to work as an instructor for the parent company of the Test Flying Academy of South Africa.

The appeal notice says the flight company offers pilot training and other services, but he began looking for work elsewhere in 2024.

The notice says he tried travelling from Beijing to New Zealand in December 2024, but was denied boarding after New Zealand immigration officers claimed that his passport was “reported as lost or stolen with Interpol.”

The appeal says his passport was actually cancelled, and the Canadian government refused to reinstate due to his “knowledge of sensitive Canadian, U.S., and NATO information, cancelling his passport was necessary to protect national security, as returning it could enable activities harmful to Canada and its allies.”

He claims a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada sent to his former home in Dubai that month stated his passport was cancelled by the public safety minister.

Miles-Ingram’s appeal says he sought reconsideration of the cancellation, which was refused on Jan. 16, 2026.

“The cancellation of the appellant’s Canadian passport has effectively destroyed the appellant’s career and ability to earn a livelihood as a pilot,” the appeal says.

The U.S. Justice Department said in a news release on Jan. 15. 2026 that it had filed a forfeiture complaint over flight simulators being shipped to China by the Test Flying Academy of South Africa.

“TFASA masquerades as a civilian flight-training academy when in fact it is a significant enabler of the Chinese air and naval forces and a pipeline for transferring NATO aviation expertise, operational knowledge, and restricted technology directly to the People’s Liberation Army,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the seizure demonstrated “the ongoing threat that China and its enablers pose to the national security of the United States through the unlawful procurement of U.S. military technology.”

The company said in a statement posted on its website that it “strenuously rejects the allegations and implications made in that release as factually incorrect and misleading.”

“In particular, the company rejects any suggestion that NATO expertise was transferred, or that any U.S. military technology, defence technical data, or other restricted information was exported in breach of applicable laws,” the statement said.

The company and Miles-Ingram’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

He claims in the appeal that there’s no evidence that he has committed a criminal or terrorism offence to justify the cancellation, or that he poses a national security risk to Canada.

“There is no law in Canada that prevents any Canadian citizen from working for (Test Flying Academy of South Africa) or its subsidiaries,” the appeal says. “Similarly, there is no Canadian law which limits or restricts the employment of retired CAF members domestically or internationally or which prevents them from using their transferable skills for future employment.”

Miles-Ingram says he never trained anyone about sensitive Canadian, U.S. and NATO information, and refusing to reinstate his passport unreasonably and unfairly “failed to consider the severe economic and personal consequences of passport cancellation on the appellant’s ability to work and support himself and his family.”

He also alleges the refusal to give his passport back breaches his Charter rights.

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Miles-Ingram’s case.

#UN body investigating fatal strike on Iranian girls’ school, The attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh School consisted of two missile strikes in quick ​succession that ​killed 168 children, mostly girls, ‌Iranian officials said ⁠in Geneva on Monday.

Reuters reported on March 5 that U.S. military investigators believe it is likely that U.S. forces were responsible but have not yet reached ⁠a final conclusion or completed their investigation. The Pentagon has since elevated the probe.

“We’re at an early stage of ⁠that investigation,” Max du Plessis, a member of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, told a Geneva press conference, saying that it had ​credible reports backing Iran’s death toll.

“It’s clear ‌to us that whatever ⁠happens in ⁠respect of such an event, given the innocent lives that have been lost, there ⁠is a critical need for such an investigation to be done and for an independent ‌outcome to follow," he said.

If U.S. fault is confirmed, ⁠it would ‌rank among the worst incidents of civilian deaths in decades of U.S. military strikes in the Middle ‌East.

Reporting by Emma Farge; ‌Additional reporting by ​Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Miranda Murray

#BREAKING: Chinese firm claims it intercepted B-2 radio signal during #US strike on #Iran.

Michelle Bolsonaro said on Instagram that tests showed the 70-year-old right-wing politician had reduced inflammation since he was placed in the Brasilia hospital’s intensive care unit on Friday for pneumonia.

“We remain confident he will overcome this moment too,” Michelle Bolsonaro said.

The hospital DF Star said on Sunday that Bolsonaro ’s kidney function had improved, although he was to stay in intensive care because of pneumonia. The hospital did not mention his transfer to a semi-intensive care unit.

Bolsonaro, who governed between 2019 and 2022, was taken to the hospital on Friday from the prison where he is serving a 27-year sentence for leading a coup attempt in 2023.

The embattled ex-leader was transferred from the local federal police headquarters to a larger cell in January. His family and allies have repeatedly asked Brazil’s Supreme Court to allow him to carry out his sentence under house arrest.

The right-wing leader has been hospitalized multiple times since being stabbed at a campaign event before the 2018 presidential election.

His son Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator, is expected to run for president later this year against incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Jair Bolsonaro was also convicted on charges that include leading an armed criminal organization and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law. He has denied any wrongdoing.

___

The Associated Press

Analysis: Two weeks into war with Iran, #Trump has been knocked back on his #political heels.


He’s grown more agitated with news coverage and has failed to find a way to explain why he started the war — or how he will end it — that resonates with a public concerned by American deaths in the conflict, surging oil prices and dropping financial markets. Even some of his supporters are questioning his plan and his overall poll numbers are declining.

Meanwhile, Moscow is getting a boost from the war’s early days after Trump eased sanctions on some Russian oil shipments. That, combined with rising oil prices, undercut the yearslong push to crimp President Vladimir Putin’s ability to wage war in Ukraine.

Then there are Democrats, who were left reeling after Trump won the 2024 election. With control of Congress at stake in November’s midterms, the party has come together to oppose Trump’s Iran policy and point to the economic turmoil as proof that Republicans haven’t kept their promises to bring down everyday costs.

“I think Democrats are well-positioned for this November and the midterms,” said Kelly Dietrich, CEO of the National Democratic Training Committee, which trains party backers to run for office and staff campaigns.

Dietrich said the past two weeks show the Trump administration has failed at long-term planning. “They’re flying by the seat of their pants, and the rest of us are paying the price,” he said.

Trump let some of his frustrations show on Air Force One as he flew back from a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, lashing out at allies and other countries dependent on Middle Eastern oil for not doing more to counter Iran and specifically name-checking British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who he said initially declined to put British aircraft carriers “into harm’s way.”

“Whether we get support or not,” Trump said, “I can say this, and I said to them: We will remember.”
Trump seeks help securing the Strait of Hormuz

The president spent much of his weekend at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. He also attended a closed-door fundraiser for his MAGA Inc. super PAC at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night.

Last weekend, Trump played golf at another of his South Florida properties a day after witnessing the dignified transfer for six U.S. soldiers killed in the Iran war. A political action committee used a photo of the solemn event in a fundraising email, but Trump brushed off a question about whether it was appropriate, saying “there’s nobody that’s better to the military than me.”

Trump and his White House have increasingly complained about media coverage of the conflict. On Saturday, he cheered on his broadcast regulator for threatening to pull broadcast licenses unless they “correct course.”

He angrily told reporters flying with him on Air Force One that coverage of the war had been influenced by Iranian propaganda, which exaggerated the military and political strength of Iran’s leaders and their support among the country’s people.

The president — who kept allies other than Israel in the dark about his war plans for Iran — this weekend began suggesting the U.S. would need to lean on the international community to help oil tankers move through the Strait of Hormuz, where transportation has been severely disrupted, throwing global energy markets into a tailspin.

Iran has said it plans to keep up attacks on energy infrastructure and use its effective closure of the strait as leverage against the United States and Israel. A fifth of the world’s traded oil flows through the waterway.

Trump said the U.S. was talking to “about seven” countries about providing military support to help reopen the strait. But he wouldn’t say which ones and gave no indication of when such a coalition might be formed.

“It’s something that we don’t need and these countries do need,” the president said, adding “I think it’s a good thing for other countries to come in.”

Singling out allies in Europe, Trump also said, “We’re always there for NATO” and “It’d be interesting to see what country wouldn’t help us with a very small endeavor.”

“Really I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory,” Trump said.

But other countries have reacted to that call only cautiously so far.

South Korea plans to “closely coordinate and carefully review” Trump’s comments, while Japan is closely watching developments. Britain’s defense ministry said it was “discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region.”

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said keeping the strait “safe and stable serves the common interests of the international community” and that “as a sincere friend and strategic partner of Middle Eastern countries, China will continue to strengthen communication with relevant parties.” Trump — who is slated to visit Beijing later this month — declined to say whether China would join the effort.

Trump had pledged at the beginning of the war that U.S. naval ships would escort tankers through the waterway. But that hasn’t happened yet.

In the meantime, questions about the strait continue to undermine Trump’s recent pronouncement during a Kentucky rally that, “We’ve won.”

“You know, you never like to say too early you won. We won,” he said. “We won the, in the first hour, it was over.”
The war has far-reaching political implications

The U.S. Treasury Department announced this past week a 30-day waiver on Russian sanctions, aiming to free up Russian oil cargoes stranded at sea to help ease supply shortages caused by the Iran war.

That’s despite analysts saying that spiraling oil prices due to Persian Gulf production blockages are benefiting the Russian economy. Moscow relies heavily on oil revenue to finance its war on Ukraine, and sanctions were a growing handicap.

Some of Washington’s key allies have decried the move as empowering Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called easing sanctions “not the right decision” and said it “certainly does not help peace” because it leads to a “strengthening of Russia’s position.”

With midterm races now starting to heat up, Trump was asked about the potential political impact of voters seeing gas prices jump.

“Politically, sure, everybody has concern — I have to do what’s right," Trump said Sunday night. “I can’t say that ‘Gee, I don’t want to have any impact on oil prices for three or four weeks, or two months, and we’re going to let Iran have a nuclear weapon.’”

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said of higher energy prices on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “Americans are feeling it right now” and would ”for a few more weeks.”

Iran also has even divided Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base, between those who support the action and others who say that Trump expressly campaigned on ending wars.

The political turbulence has some Democrats predicting their party could see midterm gains rivaling 2018’s “blue wave” election during Trump’s first term.

“Democrats just have to keep reminding people that he made a promise to bring prices down, and they’re still going up,” Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said of Trump. “And now they’re going to go up even more because prices in gasoline can increase prices of everything else, including at the grocery store.”

Will Weissert, The Associated Press

5th member of Iranian women’s soccer team gives up #asylum in Australia. The player’s departure shortly before midnight on Sunday leaves two of an initial seven squad members in Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s office said.

The Iranian authorities have welcomed the women’s change of heart as a victory against Australia and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Iranian diaspora in Australia blame pressure from Tehran.

Burke reported on Sunday that two players and a team support staff member had left Sydney for Malaysia on Saturday.

Iran’s team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the war in the Middle East began on Feb. 28.

Initially, six players and a support staff member from a squad list of 26 players accepted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia before the rest of the Iranian contingent flew from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on March 10.

Another later changed her mind and left Australia.

The rest of the team has remained in Kuala Lumpur since they left Australia.

Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite described the women’s plight in Australia as a “very complex situation.”

“We’ve been working very, very closely with them, but obviously this is a very complex situation. These are deeply personal decisions, and the government respects the decisions of those that have chosen to return. And we continue to offer support to the two that are remaining,” Thistlethwaite told Sky News television.

“They’re being given all the support of the Australian government and indeed the diaspora community to remain here and settle in Australia,” he added.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said after the three left Australia on Saturday and that they were “returning to the warm embrace of their family and homeland.”

Concerns about the team’s safety in Iran heightened when the players didn’t sing the Iranian national anthem before their first match.

The Australian government was urged to help the women by Iranian groups in Australia and by Trump.

The Iranian news agency described the women’s return to the team as the “disgraceful failure of the American-Australian project and another failure for Trump.”

Some members of the Iranian diaspora in Australia have accused the support staffer who initially accepted asylum then left Australia on Saturday of spreading Iranian government propaganda to her teammates via text messages.

Thistlethwaite said there was no evidence to support the theory that the staffer had persuaded others to leave. All those who had remained in Australia after the team had left were “genuine asylum seekers,” he said.

Thistlethwaite said the women had been taken to an undisclosed “safe destination” once they had decided to stay in Australia.

“They’ve been able to communicate with family and with others. I understand that some of them did make contact with the Iranian embassy here in Australia. We can’t cut off communications for them,” Thistlethwaite said.

The embassy in the national capital Canberra remains staffed, despite the Australian government expelling the ambassador last year.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in August after announcing that intelligence officials had concluded that the Revoluntionary Guard had directed arson attacks on a Sydney kosher food company and Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue in 2024.

Australian-Iranian Society of Victoria vice-president Kambiz Razmara said the women who accepted asylum had been under pressure from the Tehran regime.

“They’ve had to make decisions at the spur of the moment with very little information and they’ve had to react to the circumstance,” Razmara said. “I’m surprised that they’ve decided to go, but I’m actually not surprised because I appreciate the pressures that they’re experiencing.”

Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press

After quieter weeks, Taiwan reports large-scale Chinese military aircraft presence near the island.

#HONGKONG — #Taiwan saw a surge of #Chinese #military planes near the island, its #defence ministry said Sunday, after a sharp drop in flights over the past two weeks had sparked discussions among observers.

The ministry detected 26 Chinese military aircraft around the island on Saturday, with 16 of them entering its northern, central and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone. Seven naval ships were spotted around the island, it reported.

The increased number of aircraft came after the ministry reported a fall that left analysts scratching their heads about what China’s military may be up to.

Taiwan didn’t report any Chinese military planes that went beyond the median line and entered the zone for a week from Feb. 27 to March 5. After two were detected on March 6, the next four days had none. Such flights resumed in small numbers between Wednesday and Friday.

The drop coincided with the annual meeting of China’s legislature. While such flights have fallen in the past during major events and public holidays, this year’s fall was more prominent than in the past.

Analysts said the meeting could not be the sole reason behind the recent drop. Another potential factor could be a desire to calm the waters with Washington weeks before a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House has said that Trump would travel to China from March 31 to April 2, though Beijing has not officially confirmed that.

Some observers also suggested the decline may be driven by a shift to a next phase in China’s military training and modernization, with the army appearing to be exploring a new model for joint training between its forces.

China has vowed to seize the island, by force if necessary. Over the years, Beijing has sent warplanes and navy vessels toward the island on a near-daily basis.

Taiwan’s military previously signalled that it wasn’t changing its defence posture because of the falloff in Chinese warplane activity.

Defence Minister Wellington Koo earlier noted that China’s navy has remained active in nearby waters, even as military flights have fallen off.

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when the Communist Party rose to power in Beijing following a civil war. Defeated Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan, which later transitioned from martial law to multiparty democracy.

Kanis Leung, The Associated Press