How the World Is Reacting to the Attack on Iran

A young Iranian protester shouts anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans during an anti-war protest against the U.S. and Israeli military attacks, in Tehran, on Feb. 28, 2026. Credit - Morteza Nikoubazl—NurPhoto via Getty Images

World leaders reacted with a mix of support, condemnation and urgent calls for restraint after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran on Saturday thatkilledSupreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Donald Trump announced Khamenei's death in a post on Truth Social, calling it "the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country."

The U.S. and Israel announced their strikes on the Middle Eastern nation in the early hours of Saturday morning after weeks of Trump threatening Iran over their nuclear deal program. The strikes hit the capital Tehran, as well as Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, Tabriz and Isfahan, where there is a major nuclear facility.

Read More:Does Trump Have the Legal Authority to Strike Iran? An Expert Explains

In the hours after the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes, Russia and China released statements in support of Iran, while Canada, Australia and Ukraine were among those who expressed support for the U.S. and Israel. Several world leaders urged restraint and de-escalation on both sides moving forward.

Here is a round up of what world leaders have said about the operation that has begun war in the Middle East.

United Kingdom

Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee as the country weighs its response to the attacks and Tehran's retaliation across the Gulf.

It did not participate in the military action, but the country had deployed RAF Typhoons to Qatar to protect the al-Udeid airbase and allied bases across the region.

The UK government on Saturday said in a statement it "does not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict." Still, a government spokesperson emphasized that "Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution."

Starmer released a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron and  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, telling Iran to stop their retaliatory attacks on countries in the Middle East.

"We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms," the joint statement reads. "We call for a resumption of negotiations and urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future."

Russia

Russia condemned the U.S. and Israel's attack, calling it  "a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state," in a statement from Russia's Foreign Affairs Ministryposted to Telegram.

It accused the U.S. and Israel of  "plunging the Middle East into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation" and said the attacks could cause a "humanitarian, economic and possibly radiological catastrophe" in the Middle East.

China

China's Foreign Ministry spokespersonsaid on Xthat "Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected."

"China calls for an immediate stop of the military actions, no further escalation of the tense situation, resumption of dialogue and negotiation, and efforts to uphold peace and stability in the Middle East," the statement continued.

France

In addition to the joint statement with the leaders of the United Kingdom and Germany, French President Emmanuel Macronsaid on X, in a post originally in French, that the escalation "is dangerous for all."

"It must stop," he added. "The Iranian regime must understand that it now has no other option but to engage in good faith in negotiations to end its nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as its regional destabilization activities. This is absolutely necessary for the security of all in the Middle East."

He called for an "urgent" meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

European Union

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union's chief executive, saidin a statement on social mediathat the EU has "consistently promoted diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the nuclear and ballistic programmes through a negotiated solution.""We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, and to fully respect international law," she said.

Canada

Prime Minister Mark Carney saidin a statement on Xthat Canada supports the U.S. "acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security."

"Canada's position remains clear: The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world's worst human rights records and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons."

Australia

Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said in a statement on X that the country backs the U.S. in their military operation.

"We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security," he said.

The country also updated their travel recommendations to "Do Not Travel" for Lebanon and Israel.

Pakistan

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released astatementSaturday condemning what it calls "unwarranted attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran," as well as retaliatory attacks by "Iran against the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE."

Advertisement

The Ministry confirmed that a Pakistani national was killed in the UAE during the attacks.

"We urge all sides to refrain from any further actions that may undermine the security and territorial integrity of other regional countries," the statement read.

India

India's Ministry of Foreign affairssaid in a statementthat the country is "deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region."

"We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians," it continues. "Dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address underlying issues. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected."

Spain

Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sánchezcalled on Xfor " immediate de-escalation and full respect for international law," decrying the potential for another "prolonged" war in the Middle East.

"We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order," he said. "We likewise reject the actions of the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard."

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned Iran's retaliatory strikes across the region in a statement.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns and denounces in strongest terms the blatant Iranian aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the U.A.E., Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan,"  the statement reads.

United Arab Emirates

After the UAE was hit by retaliatory strikes from Iran, its Ministry of Foreign Affairscondemnedits neighbor in a statement, calling the strikes a  "flagrant violation of national sovereignty and a clear breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations."

"The UAE underscored that it retains its full and legitimate right to respond to these attacks in a manner that safeguards its sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity, and ensures the safety of its citizens and residents, in accordance with international law," the statement continued.

Oman

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidisaid on XSaturday after the attacks that he was "dismayed."

"Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined," said Al Busaidi, who has been a key mediator in recent U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. "Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer."

United Nations

Volker Türk, the UN's Human Rights Commissioner, criticized both the strikes against Iran, and Iran's retaliatory strikes."As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price," he said in a statement on Saturday. "I call for restraint and implore all parties to see reason, to de-escalate, and for a return to the 'negotiating table' where they had been actively seeking a solution only hours earlier."

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned military action on all sides of the conflict.

"I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities & de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians & regional stability," Guterressaid on X

He also pointed out in the post that the UN's Charter prohibits "the threat of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations."

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Iran for being "Putin's accomplice" in a poston X reactingto the escalation.

"It is important that the United States is acting decisively. Whenever there is American resolve, global criminals weaken. This understanding must also come to the Russians."

Albania

Albania Prime Minister Edi Ramasaid on Xthat Albania stands "firm with Israel and with the peace-seeking brotherly Arab countries" and that it supports the United States' military contribution.

"We fully endorse every decisive effort to prevent once and for all the murderers in Tehran from acquiring nuclear or any other military capacity to harm Israel or any other peace-loving nation in the Middle East," Rama said. "Terrorism must be named. And once named, it must be stopped."

Hungary

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a Trump ally in Europe, immediately expressed concerns for how the strikes would impact oil prices. The strikes, he toldreporters, "doubled the importance of the Friendship oil pipeline," which runs through Ukraine. Shipments of Russian oil have been disrupted since January, and Orbán has accused Ukraine ofimposingan "oil blockade."

Kuwait

Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base, which is used by the U.S. military, was also targeted as part of Iran's military retaliation. Kuwait released a statement condemning the Iranian attacks on their soil and asserted their right to respond to the "brazen attack" via Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Qatar

In similar statements to Kuwait and UAE, Qatar condemned Iran's retaliatory attacks and reaffirmed their own right to respond, as per international law.

"The State of Qatar expresses its strong condemnation of the targeting of Qatari territory with Iranian ballistic missiles, considering it a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty, a direct infringement on its security and territorial integrity, and an unacceptable escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region," the statement,posted to X, read.

Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salamsaid on Xthat he "will not accept anyone dragging the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity."

Contact usatletters@time.com.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

February 28, 2026

How the World Is Reacting to the Attack on Iran

A young Iranian protester shouts anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans during an anti-war protest against the U.S. and Israe...

Read More

Death toll rises to 22 after cargo plane carrying money crashes near Bolivia’s capital

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — The death toll rose to 22 on Saturday from thecrash of a military planecarrying 18 tons of new banknotes a day earlier near Bolivia's capital, damaging about a dozen vehicles and scattering bills on the ground, a police commander said Saturday.

Another 29 people were injured, mostly passengers traveling on public transportation where the plane crashed. Among the dead are 12 men, including one crew member, six women and four children, police commander Mirko Sokol said.

Forensic investigators were still recovering remains from the wreckage Saturday. The injured were taken to clinics in the city of El Alto, near La Paz, where the airport is located.

Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas said Friday that the Hercules C-130 plane was transporting newly printed Bolivian currency from the eastern city of Santa Cruz when it "landed and veered off the runway" at an airport in El Alto, a city adjacent to La Paz, before ending up in a nearby field. Firefighters managed to put out the flames that engulfed the aircraft.

Advertisement

Images on social media showed debris from the aircraft, destroyed cars and bodies scattered on the road. According to fire chief, Pavel Tovar, at least 15 vehicles were damaged.

The plane belonging to the Bolivian air force, was transporting money to La Paz and images on social media showed people rushing to collect the bills scattered at the crash site, while more than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers tried to disperse them, according to official reports.

To avoid more looting, police and military personnel burned the cash boxes in the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza, who said the bills "have no legal value because they never entered circulation," without clarifying.

Espinoza did not specify the amount of money being transported, but he said the banknotes had arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

February 28, 2026

Death toll rises to 22 after cargo plane carrying money crashes near Bolivia’s capital

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — The death toll rose to 22 on Saturday from thecrash of a military planecarrying 18 tons of new ban...

Read More

Takeaways from AP's report on the ICE detention center holding children and parents

Many Americans were alarmed recently when immigration officers in Minneapolistook custody of a 5-year-old boyand sent him and his father to a Texas detention center. But he was no outlier.

US-Immigration-Detaining-Children

The government has been holdinghundreds of children and their parentsat the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, about 75 miles south of San Antonio. Some have been detained for months.

The Department of Homeland Security has strongly defended the quality of care and conditions there.

Here are key findings from an Associated Press report on how the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement is shaping life inside the facility.

Detention of children has been rising

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement booked more than 3,800 children into detention during the first nine months of the new Trump administration, according to an AP analysis of data from the University of California, Berkeley's Deportation Data Project.

On an average day, more than 220 children were being held, with most of those detained longer than 24 hours sent to Dilley. More than half of Dilley detainees during the early part of the Trump administration were children, the AP analysis found.

Sincebeing reopened last spring, the number of people detained at Dilley has risen sharply and reached more than 1,300 in late January, according to researchers. Nearly two-thirds of children detained by ICE in the early months of the Trump administration were eventually deported.

ICE holds many children longer than 20-day limit

The government is holding many childrenat Dilley well beyond the 20-day limitset by a longstanding court order.

Advertisement

"We've started to use 100 days as a benchmark because so many children are exceeding 20 days," said Leecia Welch, the chief legal director at Children's Rights, who visits Dilley regularly to ensure compliance. In a visit this month, Welch said she counted more than 30 children who had been held for over 100 days.

Many settled families among those currently detained

When the Obama administration opened Dilley in 2014, nearly all the families detained there had recently crossed the border from Mexico.

But many of those now sent to the facility have lived in the U.S. several years, according to lawyers and other observers, meaning children are being uprooted from the familiarity of schools, neighborhoods and many of the people who care for them.

Parents Allege Deficient Care

Parents and children recounted stressful conditions inside Dilley, including experiences that raise questions about the quality of care being provided.

A 13-year-old girl cut herself with a plastic knife after staff withheld prescribed antidepressants and denied her request to join her mother down the hall, the mother told the AP.

Another mother said when her 1-year-old daughter developed a high fever and vomited, medical staff repeatedly offered only acetaminophen and ibuprofen before she was eventually admitted to hospitals with bronchitis, pneumonia and stomach viruses. ICE disputed her account, saying the baby "immediately received proper care."

Other families described more routine problems, like the difficulty of getting children to sleep in quarters where lights are kept on all night and of stomach aches caused by foul drinking water.

Both adults and children described the often overwhelming stress of being detained that has caused many to despair.

ICE, DHS defend Dilley

DHS did not respond to detailed questions about Dilley submitted by the AP. But both DHS and ICE sharply refuted allegations of poor care and conditions in statements issued this week."The Dilley facility is a family residential center designed specifically to house family units in a safe, structured and appropriate environment," ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement.Dilley provides medical screenings and infant care packages as well as classrooms and recreational spaces, ICE said.Once in full operation, Dilley is expected to generate about $180 million in annual revenue for CoreCivic, the for-profit prison company that operates it under contract with ICE, according to the company's recent filing with securities regulators.In response to questions from the AP, a CoreCivic spokesman said no child at Dilley "has been denied medical treatment or experienced a delayed medical assessment." The company said detainees receive comprehensive care from medical and mental health professionals.Questions about oversightThe increased detention of families comes as the Trump administration has gutted an office responsible for oversight of conditions inside Dilley and other facilities.In years past,investigators found problems at Dilley, including consistently inadequate staffing and disregard for the trauma caused by the detention.A special committee recommended that family detention be discontinued except in rare cases, and the Biden administration began phasing it out in 2021. Dilley was closed in 2024. But in reopening it, the Trump administration has completely reversed course.

DHS did not respond to detailed questions about Dilley submitted by the AP. But both DHS and ICE sharply refuted allegations of poor care and conditions in statements issued this week.

"The Dilley facility is a family residential center designed specifically to house family units in a safe, structured and appropriate environment," ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement.

Dilley provides medical screenings and infant care packages as well as classrooms and recreational spaces, ICE said.

Once in full operation, Dilley is expected to generate about $180 million in annual revenue for CoreCivic, the for-profit prison company that operates it under contract with ICE, according to the company's recent filing with securities regulators.

In response to questions from the AP, a CoreCivic spokesman said no child at Dilley "has been denied medical treatment or experienced a delayed medical assessment." The company said detainees receive comprehensive care from medical and mental health professionals.

Questions about oversight

The increased detention of families comes as the Trump administration has gutted an office responsible for oversight of conditions inside Dilley and other facilities.

In years past,investigators found problems at Dilley, including consistently inadequate staffing and disregard for the trauma caused by the detention.

A special committee recommended that family detention be discontinued except in rare cases, and the Biden administration began phasing it out in 2021. Dilley was closed in 2024. But in reopening it, the Trump administration has completely reversed course.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

February 28, 2026

Takeaways from AP's report on the ICE detention center holding children and parents

Many Americans were alarmed recently when immigration officers in Minneapolistook custody of a 5-year-old boyand sent him...

Read More

2026 winter storms in US have killed more than 150 in just over a month

The three-month meteorological winter that ends with February sawa particularly deadly span of stormsand heavy snow, claiming at least 150 lives in the United States over just 32 days.

Hypothermia, snow shoveling, motor vehicle accidents and recreational activities wereamong the leading causes of deathduring the two big storms that blasted all or parts of the eastern United States, USA TODAY research shows.

But the deadly tragedies share a common theme, Brett Robertson, an associate professor and associate director of the University of South Carolina's Hazards Vulnerability & Resilience Institute, wrote inan essay for TheConversation.comafter the major winter storm in late January. "Winter storms pose multiple dangers at once, and people often underestimate how quickly conditions can become life-threatening."

A powerful nor'easter rapidly intensified early Monday as it pummeled much of the Northeast with heavy snow, grounding flights, shuttering schools and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.
A snowplow clears a parking lot in front of a Tarrytown, N.Y. apartment building before dawn during blizzard conditions during the nor'easter Feb. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Blizzard hammers Northeast as heavy snow and wind snarl region

A powerful nor'easter rapidly intensified early Mondayas it pummeled much of the Northeast with heavy snow, grounding flights, shuttering schools and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.A snowplow clears a parking lot in front of a Tarrytown, N.Y. apartment building before dawn during blizzard conditions during the nor'easter Feb. 23, 2026.

Northeast blizzard proved deadly

The most recent blizzard and storm, a Nor'easter that intensified off the Atlantic coast, struck the Northeast Feb. 22 through Feb. 24. A dozen deaths have been reported, including at least six attributed to shoveling snow.

In Rhode Island, wheremore than 3 feet of snow fellin at least two locations, two people died, The Providence Journal reported. Salve Regina University identified one of the fatalities as Joseph Boutros, a 21-year-old student. Boutros died of carbon monoxide poisoning on Feb. 23 while attempting to charge his cellphone in his snow-covered car.

The other person who died has not been identified publicly, but the death – in North Smithfield – was shoveling related, said Joseph Wendelken, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Health.

In addition to the deaths, the severe winter weather kept emergency rooms busy. During the Rhode Island blizzard, for example, local hospitals saw at least 263 emergency department visits related to the storm, Wendelken said.

In Maryland, two people were killed on Feb. 22 when a falling tree struck a vehicle, according to the Calvert County Sheriff's Office. The driver, Michael Lee Simpson, 60, of Deale, and front seat passenger Virginia Marie Quesenberry, 43, of Chesapeake Beach, died at the scene, the department stated. A third passenger was taken to a trauma center with critical injuries.

The Maryland State Police reported responding to 343 crashes during the course of the snowstorm.

In Massachusetts, Patrick Sarpong, 35, of Vernon, Connecticut, wasstruck and killed by a tractor traileron Feb. 24 as he was clearing snow off his car on the side of the Massachusetts Turnpike, according to the Massachusetts State Police. State troopers reported responding to more than 500 disabled vehicles during the storm.

On Long Island, in New York, media outlets reported five deaths were attributed to snow shoveling and the body of one man was found buried under 5 feet of snow.

Bitter cold and hypothermia

The winter storm and blast of polar air thatcovered the eastern half of the United States from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27proved especially hazardous because of the below freezing temperatures and wind chills.

The extended cold conditions were particularly harsh, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani noted during a news conference in late February. Bitter cold lingered for days, and although some of the deaths remain under investigation, at least 30 were attributed to hypothermia during that bout of freezing weather.

Signs of hypothermia can be difficult to recognize, the National Weather Service said. They include dizziness, stiff muscles and difficulty speaking. It's important to dress in layers when venturing outside, and to choose breathable fabric for your base layer.

Another 11 deaths during the January winter storm were likely related to shoveling snow, according to reports from officials and coroners. In total, USA TODAY research shows nearly 20 people died as either a direct or indirect result of shoveling snow over the five weeks.

Lifting heavy wet snow with shovels is much more taxing on the body than most people realize, doctors told reporters in the USA TODAY Network. Weather forecasters and medical professionals repeatedly urge those who must shovel snow to drink lots of water because of the way the activity can cause dehydration, especially in those with pre-existing medical conditions. They also advise taking breaks often and dressing warmly.

Advertisement

Avalanches caused a dozen deaths

After a winter in the West that raised concerns about lack of snow, heavy snow began to fall in the western mountains, with layers of snow creating hazardous conditions that led toseveral deadly avalanches.

Over a six-day period, 13 people were killed:

Feb. 17 – Nineskiers in one group died in an avalanchenear Lake Tahoe. Six survived.

Feb. 18 – Afather snowmobiling in Wasatch County, Utah, became trapped at the bottom of a steep slope. As his son tried to help, an avalanche caught, carried and buried the father, the Utah Avalanche Center reported.

Feb. 19 –A young girl was killed in an avalanchein the backcountry near Brighton, Utah, the avalanche center stated in a preliminary report.

Feb. 21 –A skier died in an avalanchein the Big Cottonwood Canyon region of Utah, according to the center.

Feb. 22 – A person on a snowbike was caught, carried and fully buried in a very large avalanche well above the town of Midway, Utah, the center reported.

According to the avalanche center's statistics, Utah averagesbetween 3 and 4 avalanche-related deaths a year.

How you can help prevent deaths

While some deaths are unavoidable, emergency management officials, law enforcement officers and hospitals throughout the country have reiterated this winter that you can take steps to reduce your risks and protect your family.

To safeguard your life and the lives of others, "before a winter storm or any hazardous weather event, preparation is key," according to the Weather Service.

"Ahead of winter storms, It's important to have an action plan for your home that includes enduring extended power and water outages that can last up to a week," said Charlie Woodrum, resilience and preparedness lead for the weather service. "Beyond having a plan for your family, it's important to make sure you plan for the care of your pets and watch out for elderly neighbors."

Because the elderly can be particularly vulnerable in extreme cold, the weather service routinely encourages people to check-in with any at-risk neighbors or friends and family before and during storms, bitter cold and power outages.

Woodrum and many police departments posting on social media during the storm said it's important to "avoid travel altogether" when conditions are bad.

In his essay, Robertson wrote that "nearby social ties matter during disasters because they help people share information and act more quickly when services are disrupted." He encouraged those preparing for storms to make sure their information is "coming from reliable sources."

Contributing: Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News

Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, covers climate change, weather, the environment and other news. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 winter storms claim 150 lives in US

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

February 28, 2026

2026 winter storms in US have killed more than 150 in just over a month

The three-month meteorological winter that ends with February sawa particularly deadly span of stormsand heavy snow, clai...

Read More

Cuba unveils new details in fatal US boat shooting and says a 2nd boat on mission failed

HAVANA (AP) — Top officials with Cuba's Ministry of the Interior unveiled for the first time late Friday the items they said were aboard aFlorida-flagged speedboatthat opened fire against troops in waters off the island's north coast this week, with soldiers responding and killing four suspects.

Cuba Boat Shooting

Officials also revealed to The Associated Press that authorities were able to establish that the 10 Cuban suspects left the U.S. in two boats, but one failed, so they transferred all the supplies to the remaining one and left the other adrift.

The government said the detained suspects revealed those details and stressed that theyimmediately contacted the U.S. Coast Guard.

Among the items Cuban officials said were aboard the boat: a dozen high-powered weapons, including one with a scope; a big cooler filled with more than 12,800 pieces of ammunition; 11 pistols; heavy-duty boots, helmets with cameras; and camouflage backpacks.

"We were clearly able to assess that we were facing a terrorist action from a boat coming from the United States," 1st Col. Ivey Daniel Carballo of the Cuban Border Guard Troops told the AP.

According to Carballo, the 30-foot (nine meter) border patrol boat detected an intruder on Wednesday morning and approached to within about 600 feet (185 meters) to investigate, but it was met with high-caliber gunfire.

He said that three of the attackers were immediately killed and that a fourth was wounded and later died.

Caraballo said the speedboat was located about one mile (1.6 kilometers) northeast of Cayo Falcones off the island's north coast. The border guard commander was injured, he added.

Advertisement

Victor Eduardo Álvarez Valle, one of the heads of Criminal Investigation for State Security at the Ministry of the Interior, told the AP that authorities were surprised by the resistance they encountered.

"We didn't expect it, especially with that many people and weapons," he said.

"The military equipment found on board has been identified by the assailants, including where and how they acquired it, and the training they received. They also revealed who financed it," Álvarez added.

He noted that officials detected 13 bullet holes on the border guard boat and 21 others on the suspect's vessel, "meaning that there was combat."

The Cuban government had reported Wednesday that a person had been captured on land, but Álvarez said that so far, there is no information that the suspects had any support network on the island.

Cuba's chief prosecutor of the directorate at the Attorney General's Office, Edward Robert Campbell, told the AP that the six arrested, all of Cuban origin, could face terrorism charges, which carries a possible sentence of 30 years in prison, life imprisonment or even the death penalty, although the latter has been on moratorium for more than a decade.

The Associated Press was given access to Cuban military officials and shown the items displayed at the headquarters of the former Cuban Institute of Radio and Television ahead of a program that showed them to the public for the first time.

U.S.Secretary of State Marco Rubiohas said it was not a U.S. government operation and thatthe American governmentwas gathering its own information.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

February 28, 2026

Cuba unveils new details in fatal US boat shooting and says a 2nd boat on mission failed

HAVANA (AP) — Top officials with Cuba's Ministry of the Interior unveiled for the first time late Friday the items th...

Read More

Florida Drought Is Worst In 25 Years. Any Relief In The Forecast?

Florida is suffering its worst drought in at least 25 years, and with only little short-term relief expected, the state could experience a spring of wildfires, stressed crops and water shortages through the rest of the dry season.

Drought Status

The latest Drought Monitor analysis from NOAA and the National Drought Mitigation Center below shows the entire state of Florida in at least some degree of drought.

That's the most widespread drought in the Sunshine State since April 2012, according to the analysis.

But about two-thirds of the state is classified as in "extreme" drought, shown by the darker red contours in the map below. That's the most serious drought in Florida since spring 2001.

The drought also extends through much of the Southeast, from southern Alabama to the mid-Atlantic states, and also from Texas and Louisiana to parts of the Midwest.

It has beenone of the driest winters on recordin parts of the Southeast, including Florida, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center. This is aclassic signature of a La Niña winter in the South.

Impacts

This parched ground with dried out vegetation from both a lack of rain and recent freezes has been fuel for wildfires in recent days, including a large one burning in the Everglades, as well as other fires in Louisiana and Texas.Outdoor burn bansare in effect in multiple Florida counties.

Farmers in Levy County reported current conditions are the worst in at least 20 years, and some crop losses have been reported, according to theNational Weather Service.

Advertisement

Water shortage warningswere issued by the South Florida Water Management District for parts of South Florida, including Miami-Dade County.

Some Rain Through Saturday

Rain and a few thunderstorms are currently sagging through Florida, bringing a little relief to the region.

Parts of Northern and Central Florida have already picked up more than an inch of rain, but showers will become more hit-or-miss by the time they reach South Florida.

This will be a little short-term relief, but won't do much to replenish the lack of soil moisture or groundwater levels built up over months.

Dry March?

More soaking rain could fall from Texas to the Ohio Valley in several rounds beginning Tuesday into the first weekend of March. Those locally heavy soakings could end up being a little too much of a good thing for that area of drought, potentially triggering flash flooding in spots.

But that wetter pattern may not make it to Florida, and that could be a harbinger of March, overall.

The latest March outlook from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has most of Florida skewing drier than average.

GivenFlorida's dry seasontypically lasts into mid-May, that could mean more water restrictions, stressed crops and a dangerous rash of wildfires in the Sunshine State this spring.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

February 28, 2026

Florida Drought Is Worst In 25 Years. Any Relief In The Forecast?

Florida is suffering its worst drought in at least 25 years, and with only little short-term relief expected, the state c...

Read More

Digital forensics could be the tool that helps 'paint a picture of truth' in the Guthrie case

As the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance continues with no suspect publicly identified and challenges with DNA evidence, experts may turn to digital forensics.

Authorities have said little about digital evidence in the case, but one leading expert has no doubt that whoever is responsible for the 84-year-old's disappearance left a digital trail.

"People forget how much their data spreads across devices. So the same thing that makes investigations hard make it hard for criminals to clean up," said Heather Barnhart, a digital forensics expert with the SANS Institute and Cellebrite.

Barnhart helped investigate theUniversity of Idaho murders, for which Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to four life sentences. Barnhart is not involved in the Guthrie investigation.

"Your phone is the silent witness to your life. It knows everything you do," Barnhart said. "So forming those patterns and then looking for any anomaly of someone trying to hide their digital footprint is key here."

More coverage of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance

• Genetic genealogy brings promise and challenges to the Nancy Guthrie case

• What could come next in the investigation into Guthrie's disappearance

• Guthrie's home will be returned to the family as search stretches into fourth week, sources say

• 'TODAY' co-host Savannah Guthrie releases new plea for information as FBI reviews tons of video in her mother's case

• What we know about the search for Nancy Guthrie

It's been nearly five weeks since Guthrie, the mother of "TODAY" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, wasreported missing on Feb. 1.

Since then,digital forensics has helped unearthimages of a masked man captured on Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera in the hours before she was reported missing — but authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or person of interest.

Concern for Guthrie has only mounted, as her family on Tuesday announced a$1 million reward for her recovery.

Investigators appear to have faced some obstacles in the case: DNA evidence from gloves found two miles from Guthrie's home turned upno hits in CODIS, the FBI's convicted offender DNA database.

Authorities are also examining DNA collected from Guthrie's home. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said he is hopeful they will be able to useinvestigative genetic genealogy— a forensic tool that combines advanced DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research — but the lab that received the DNA has reported "challenges" with the sample.

Nanos has said that his team is committed to chasing leads until they find Guthrie.

"We're not going to give up. We're going to find Nancy, and we're going to find out who did this," he said earlier this month.

Chris Burbank, a former police chief in Salt Lake City, said that physical evidence isfar from the only thingthat can crack a case.

Advertisement

"Let's really start combing every other bit of information that exists out there in the world," he said.

He suggested that investigators could use artificial intelligence to track social media leads because "most of the time, people involved in this leave some sort of social media trail."

Barnhart, the digital forensics expert, said that eventually, when digital evidence in the Guthrie case becomes available, "it will also paint a picture of truth." Digital evidence could arise with the naming of a suspect or a person of interest, or if a license plate reader or other form of technology picks up clues, she said.

Digital forensics involves the analysis of data from digital devices and the far-reaching corners of the internet and cloud services.

She said when she worked on analyzing the digital footprint of Kohberger in the2022 University of Idaho murders case, initially "the lack of evidence freaked everyone out."

"My husband and I worked on that case, we really focused on the [laptop and phone] logs that tell the truth on why there wasn't evidence. And that became the bookend of Bryan Kohberger being awake at those hours, manually powering down a device that was at 100% battery. So he created a perfect timeline for us to hone in on that investigation," she explained.

A couple of hours before the four Idaho students were killed, Kohberger left his home in Washington anddisabled or turned off his phone, and it did not go back online until after their deaths, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Barnhart said phones give insight into a person's regular patterns and habits, but they may not follow those same patterns before a crime.

"Typically, you don't do the same thing every single day in the same way you're going to act the day you commit a crime," she said.

In digital forensics, analysts comb through everything from cell tower data and Wi-Fi logs to travel data and the cloud, where information is stored digitally.

"Your phone is a really smart device," she said. "Locations that you've traveled to, times you turn your phone into airplane mode, if you put your device in Do Not Disturb, when you turn off cellular, you turn it back on. All of this is logged, and those logs are some of the most valuable pieces of information we get in digital forensics," she said.

She said even in tough cases, there's always a digital trail.

"There really isn't a perfect crime," she said.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

February 28, 2026

Digital forensics could be the tool that helps 'paint a picture of truth' in the Guthrie case

As the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance continues with no suspect publicly identified and challenges ...

Read More

What to know about U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran

TheU.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturdayin what President Donald Trump said was a massive operation to destroy the country's military capabilities and eliminate the threat of it creating a nuclear weapon.

Iran US Israel

Iran's Foreign Ministry said it would defend its homeland and its Revolutionary Guard said it launched counterattacks, firing drones and missiles at Israel and strikes aimed at U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

The strikes came after Trump has pressured Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear program, building up a fleet of American warships in the region as the countrystruggleswithgrowing dissentfollowingnationwide protests.

At least 40 people were reported killed at girls' school in southern Iran in the Israeli-U.S. strikes, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the capital of the United Arab Emirates killed one person, state media said.

Explosions in Tehran are the first signs of an attack

Israel announced it had launched an attack on Iran shortly after explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday morning. One of the first strikes hit near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It wasn't immediately clear where Khamenei was at the time; he hasn't been seen for days.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done "to remove threats." Iran's military, symbols of government and intelligence sites were targeted, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information.

Sirens wailed across Israel to warn the public about possible incoming missile strikes.

Iran strikes back

Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to U.S. Army Central. Explosions could be also be heard in Qatar, where Al Udeid Air Base hosts thousands of service members.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.

An apartment building in northern Israel was damaged and shrapnel fell in multiple sites, according to media and police. But Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said there had been no significant hits in Israel and rescue services said there were no injuries reported from missile barrages across the country.

Advertisement

Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, have vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from leadership.

Trump urges Iranians to rise up

It took over an hour for Trump to make an official announcement on the U.S. involvement in what he termed "major combat operations."

In an 8-minute video on social media, Trump indicated the U.S. was striking for reasons far beyond the nuclear program, listing grievances stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic following a revolution in 1979 that turned Iran from one of America's closest allies in the Middle East into a fierce foe.

Trump told Iranians to take cover but urged them to later rise up and topple the Islamic leadership.

"When we are finished, take over your government," Trump said. "It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations."

The attacks came a day after Trump voiced frustration over lack of progress in negotiations to stop Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons.

Building up forces

Israel said it had worked with the U.S. for months to plan the attacks.

Before U.S.-Iran negotiations were underway in Geneva, the U.S. had assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran intoa deal over its nuclear program.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three guided-missile destroyers arrived in January to bolster the number of warships in the region. The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and four accompanying destroyers later were dispatched from the Caribbean to head to the Middle East and are now in the Mediterranean.

The fleet has added more than 10,000 U.S. troops to the region.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in Celebrities, Lifestyle, Politics, ShowBiz, Sports

February 28, 2026

What to know about U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran

TheU.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturdayin what President Donald Trump said was a massive operation to destroy the co...

Read More