海角大神

NATO defense systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile launched toward Turkey. The missile passed through Iraqi and Syrian airspace and was intercepted before it reached Turkey, Turkish officials said Wednesday. The Turkish Defense Ministry said it 鈥減reserves the right to respond.鈥� Asked during a Pentagon press briefing Wednesday whether the incident could trigger NATO Article 5, in which an attack on one alliance member is an attack on all, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that he had 鈥渘o sense that it would trigger anything like Article 5.鈥�

China plans to send a special envoy to the Middle East. The move is a bid to mediate the regional conflict ignited by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reports. China has strong ties with Iran and buys nearly 90 percent of its crude oil exports. But Beijing has remained largely on the sidelines despite repeated US and Israeli strikes on Iran, limiting its response to diplomatic statements of concern and calls for an end to the fighting.

The U.S. issues its first commercial construction permit for a nuclear reactor in eight years. The commission granted the permit Wednesday for a Bill Gates-backed company to build a sodium-cooled nuclear reactor in Wyoming. The reactor, 130 miles northeast of Salt Lake City, Utah, is expected to be completed in 2030. Mr. Gates is eyeing next-generation nuclear plants as a power source for the electricity-hungry data centers behind artificial intelligence. He is a founder of and primary investor in TerraPower, the company building the plant. 鈥� The Associated Press

A Catholic diocese concealed child sex abuse for decades. In more than 300 cases since 1950, clergy members have been 鈥渃redibly accused鈥� of child sexual abuse, according to a report released Wednesday by the Rhode Island attorney general. The report details a 鈥渃ulture of secrecy.鈥� In a press release, the diocese said it willingly released records to the attorney general and said it had implemented past reforms. 鈥淎s the church, we have a sacred duty to protect children and vulnerable people,鈥� said Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, apologizing to survivors. 鈥淭he church failed them.鈥�

Cuba charged six people involved in last month鈥檚 speedboat shoot-out. Four others traveling on the Florida-registered boat were killed in the Feb. 25 encounter in Cuban waters. If convicted on charges of terrorism, the six could face decades in prison, and possibly the death penalty. The Cuban government accused the Cuban exiles 鈥� two of whom held U.S. citizenship 鈥� of coming from the United States with more than 13,000 rounds of ammunition and intending to sow chaos on the communist-run island. Tensions between the U.S. and Cuba have grown in recent months, with the U.S. blocking the sale of international oil to the economically struggling island, and President Donald Trump suggesting last week that perhaps there could be a 鈥渇riendly takeover of Cuba鈥� by the U.S.
Our coverage: Amid heated rhetoric between Washington and Havana, shoot-out raises new questions

The U.S. and Ecuador launched joint operations to combat drug trafficking. The forces aim to target 鈥渄esignated terrorist organizations.鈥� Some 70% of the world鈥檚 cocaine flows through Ecuadorean ports, according to President Daniel Noboa. Halting drug trafficking in the region has been a top priority during President Donald Trump鈥檚 second term. The U.S. has executed more than 40 lethal strikes on alleged trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since last September.

鈥� Compiled by Monitor writers around the world

Some members of Congress want to constrain President Donald Trump鈥檚 attacks on Iran, with votes occurring this week. But lawmakers have been diluting their oversight role for decades, and that history plays a role in the possible failure to get a war powers resolution through both the Senate and the House.

More than 20 years ago, Europe followed the United States into war in Iraq, indicating a lockstep defense strategy between the two. Today, that lockstep has been broken, as European nations draw lines against being pulled into the U.S. war in Iran.

Gulf Arab states lobbied hard for the United States to engage in talks with Iran. Yet in the war, 1,800 Iranian missiles and drones have been intercepted in Gulf airspace, with hundreds breaking through. The Gulf is being transformed by conflict. Will that last?

America鈥檚 recent strikes on Iran have underscored the costs of war-making for the Trump administration, particularly the delicate, high-stakes task of ensuring the safety of a large expatriate population during an escalating conflict.

James Talarico, a Texas state representative, won the Democratic nomination against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett.聽On the Republican side, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is headed to a May runoff with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.聽

Every year, hundreds of thousands of young people leave Nepal in search of work. These elections 鈥� the country鈥檚 first since youth-led protests overthrew the government 鈥� are giving some a reason to stay.

Botswana is globally celebrated for bucking the 鈥渞esource curse鈥� and using its diamond wealth to slash poverty. Now, as lab-grown diamonds rattle the country鈥檚 economy, it鈥檚 becoming another kind of parable 鈥� about the perils of depending too much on a single natural resource.

Iran鈥檚 national identity is now up for grabs as a result of the aerial bombardment of the Islamic regime by Israel and the United States. Even Iran鈥檚 historical territorial cohesion, despite its ethnic and religious diversity, might be in doubt. That鈥檚 why a phone call by President Donald Trump on March 1 hints at the country鈥檚 possible future 鈥� one that might bring an inclusive democracy in which every citizen is treated equally.

As reported by CNN, Mr. Trump spoke with the president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, Mustafa Hijri, head of what is considered the country鈥檚 most powerful organized opposition. He also called two powerful Kurdish leaders in neighboring Iraq.聽 Might Iran鈥檚 Kurds provide the foot soldiers to secure Iran if the regime collapses 鈥� and then also work with other minority groups to ensure a free, pluralistic country? Or will they use this moment to claim independence?

Mr. Trump鈥檚 phone call is also significant because, just days before the war began Feb. 28, five of Iran鈥檚 Kurdish political groups announced greater coordination to end the Islamic Republic. In addition, Israel has struck hard at the regime鈥檚 structures in Iran鈥檚 Kurdish areas while Iranian missiles and drones have hit at Kurdish areas in Iraq.

Whether Kurdish forces can bring down the regime would be an open question.聽In the Middle East, the total Kurdish population of 30 million to 40 million straddles Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. It is considered the world鈥檚 largest ethnic group without a country. Yet Kurds are divided over whether to seek autonomy as a single nation or to struggle for guaranteed rights and freedoms in their respective countries.

In Iran, about 60% of people are Persian. On March 3, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the country鈥檚 former monarch, pleaded to Iran鈥檚 minorities not to seek separatism. 鈥淵ou are the backbone of historical and cultural Iran, which has always guarded the territorial integrity of the country and the dignity and pride of the nation,鈥� he stated. 鈥淚 am certain you will remain steadfast in this covenant.鈥�

Many countries in the Middle East struggle over their national identity. Now, Iran faces a moment to reject the 47-year rule by Islamic authoritarians. But what might take their place, that is, if the regime collapses? In recent years, thousands of Iranians from different ethnic groups and religions have been killed for demanding an inclusive and egalitarian society. As the regime appears to be struggling for its survival, Iranians can end their struggle in defining their country 鈥� perhaps with help from its most marginalized groups.