Over 600 dead in raids in Iran and Lebanon. Tehran: Strait of Hormuz closed

Today's healines: the UN reports 42 civilian casualties in Afghanistan in the Islamabad raids; India and Canada sign agreements, including on nuclear power, after the breakdown in relations over the assassination of the Sikh leader; The Malaysian Parliament rejects Anwar's proposed two-term limit for the prime minister; Patriarch Kirill of Moscow also sends a message of condolence to Khamenei.

MIDDLE EAST

As Israeli and American air strikes continue in Iran and Lebanon, which according to sources in Tehran have already killed over 600 people, Saudi authorities say that two drones struck the US embassy in Riyadh, causing a small fire and minor damage. US President Donald Trump has said that the military campaign against Iran could last about four weeks, stating that Washington will do whatever is necessary to destroy Tehran's missile and nuclear capabilities. Iran has struck energy infrastructure across the Gulf, causing global oil and gas prices to soar. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps also says that the Strait of Hormuz—through which a fifth of the world's oil consumption passes—is now “closed” and warns that any ship attempting to pass through it will be attacked.

IRAN-RUSSIA

Following President Vladimir Putin, the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill (Gundjaev), also sent a message of condolence to the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkyan, a message of condolence for the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing him as “a man of deep religious convictions, a national and spiritual leader, a man of great strength and character” and concluding with the prayer that “the merciful God will give his family and all the Iranian people the strength and courage to resist.”

AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN

At least 42 civilians have been killed and 104 wounded in Afghanistan in fighting with Pakistan that has been ongoing since February 26. This was reported by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), as the military conflict between the two countries entered its sixth day. Military tensions between the two countries remain high, with Afghanistan claiming to have captured another Pakistani post in the Kandahar region and saying that fighting between the former allies turned enemies was “still ongoing.”

INDIA-CANADA

During Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to New Delhi, India and Canada announced a series of agreements, including a ten-year nuclear energy deal and others in areas such as technology, critical minerals, space, defense, and education.

Carney also announced plans to conclude a free trade agreement by the end of 2026, which has been in preparation for years and would reduce the two countries' exposure to US trade tariffs. The two governments are seeking to mend relations, which deteriorated when his predecessor Justin Trudeau accused Delhi of being linked to the 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

CHINA

China has removed three more former generals from its army - Han Weiguo, Gao Jin, and Liu Lei - from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). The measure came on the eve of its meeting as part of the so-called “Two Sessions,” the most important political event that opens tomorrow. The authorities have not provided any explanation for the dismissals, which come amid an intensification of the purge of China's military leadership in recent weeks.

MALAYSIA

The lower house of Malaysia's Parliament has rejected a constitutional amendment that would have limited the prime minister's term to two terms, with a maximum of 10 years for any individual in the office of prime minister. The measure was part of the reform agenda of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's ruling coalition. The bill was rejected because the 146 MPs who voted in favor fell just two votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the amendment. The bill to separate the offices of attorney general and public prosecutor—another of Ibrahim's promised reforms—was also sent back to committee for further analysis.

RUSSIA

In many Russian cities, requests have been made to the authorities for permits for public demonstrations protesting the closure of the Telegram messenger service. In theory, these demonstrations have the right to be organized, but they are being denied for a variety of reasons: in Moscow due to anti-Covid restrictions, in Irkutsk due to ‘excessive public attention to the issue’, in Novosibirsk due to ‘tree sanitisation’ in the requested park, then due to traffic blockages, terrorism and other reasons.