Gov. Wes Moore says his party should heed lessons from Rev. Jesse Jackson with democracy under 'assault'

On a gray, rainy Friday morning, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore arrived in Chicago to pay respects to a longtime hero.

Moore, the first Black governor of Maryland and widely seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, was among the scores of high-profile dignitaries who streamed into the House of Hope in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood to honorthe life of Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Jackson, a civil rights leader and former presidential contender whose activism and leadership spanned decades, served as an inspiration and role model, helping shape him into the leader he is today, Moore said in an interview with NBC News.

"There's something about being unafraid, particularly in moments of trial, that I think not just makes your legacy enduring, but also reminds you that that's the assignment that God places on all of us," Moore said.

Moore said he grew up in a family of "preachers and teachers," creating a backdrop to lessons he drew from Jackson, who brought together faith in God, public service and activism.

"To see someone who is of the ministry, who then also understood that you cannot talk about God's love if you're also not addressing man's brutality on earth," Moore said. "He did it so beautifully. And he crafted it all together, basically saying that for everybody who was of the faith, that you, by definition, are a civil rights activist, because you are someone who believes in God's love, and that God's love is universal."

Moore's reflections on Jackson came as thousands of people paid tribute to the late reverend on Friday. The celebration of life featured several former presidents, including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Former Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris also attended. After Jackson's death in February, Trump praised him.

"He was a real hero and I just want to pay my respects to Rev. Jesse Jackson,"Trump said at a Black History monthevent, adding that Jackson was a "force of nature" with "lots of personality, grit, and street smarts."

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At the funeral on Friday,Obama appeared to direct harsh remarksat Trump without naming him.

"Everywhere we see greed and bigotry being celebrated, and bullying and mockery masquerading as strength. We see science and expertise denigrated, while ignorance and dishonesty and cruelty and corruption are reaping untold rewards. Every single day. We see that, and it's hard to hope," he said.

Obama urged the crowd to follow Jackson's example and be "messengers of hope" and "messengers of change."

Moore reflected on the moment Democrats find themselves in today as they battle what they call overreach by the Trump administration, pointing to redistricting efforts and the president's "assault" on democracy. He said those in his party would do well to follow in Jackson's footsteps and fight harder to protect constitutional rights.

Moore has been unsuccessful in his bid to redraw the congressional districts in his home state, an attempt to push back on President Donald Trump's efforts to do the same in Republican-dominated states. Lawmakers, including those in his own party,have so far thwartedMoore's attempts to redraw the state's map in a way that would give Democrats a better chance to expand House seats and potentially win control of Congress.

Republicans in states like Texas and North Carolina have put new maps into play that aim to benefit their party. In California, voters approved a measure that would set a path for Democrats to do the same.

Moore had harsh words for those who put up a blockade to his redistricting efforts — including his fellow Democrats.

"We're here to celebrate the legacy of Reverend Jackson, someone who fought and sacrificed and made things better for us," Moore said. "So I don't understand in this moment, where we would watch one of the largest pullbacks on our democracy that has taken place right in front of our face, and think that a reminder is to sit there and do nothing and just let it happen."

"I come from a background where we are used to watching policies being made to harm us and not being a part of the policy-making conversation," he continued. "So I think the ire on those who chose to sit quietly inside this moment, I think it will rain heavy, and I don't care what political party they're a part of."

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 06, 2026

Gov. Wes Moore says his party should heed lessons from Rev. Jesse Jackson with democracy under 'assault'

On a gray, rainy Friday morning, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore arrived in Chicago to pay respects to a longtime hero. ...

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'Worse than a prison': 911 calls, interviews reveal problems at ICE's largest detention camp

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Serious medical and mental health emergencies have been routine at the nation's largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility since its opening, according torecords obtained by The Associated Press.

Data and recordings from more than a hundred 911 calls at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, along with interviews and court filings, offer a disturbing portrait of overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition and emotional distress.

Current and former detainees describe a camp where about 3,000 people have lived per day in loud and unsanitary quarters. They say detainees struggle to obtain health care as disease spreads, lose weight because of a lack of food, and fear security guards known to use force to put down disturbances.

"Every day felt like a week. Every week felt like a month. Every month felt like a year," said Owen Ramsingh, a former property manager in Columbia, Missouri, who spent several weeks in the camp before his deportation in February to the Netherlands. "Camp East Montana was 1,000% worse than a prison."

EDITOR'S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at988lifeline.org

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson who did not provide their name rejected claims of subprime conditions, saying Camp East Montana detainees receive food, water and medical treatment in a facility that is regularly cleaned.

Here are some takeaways from AP's reporting:

Camp averaged nearly one 911 call per day for months

After its opening in mid-August, staff at the camp made nearly one 911 call per day in its first five months of operation, according to data covering 130 calls from the City of El Paso obtained by the AP.

In one call, a man is heard sobbing after being assaulted by another detainee. In another, a doctor says a man is banging his head against the wall while expressing suicidal thoughts. In a third, a nurse says a pregnant woman is in severe pain and has coronavirus.

The injured detainees ranged from a 19-year-old man who fell out of a bunk bed to a 79-year-old man struggling to breathe. At least 20 emergencies were reported as seizures, including some that resulted in serious head trauma.

Calls reveal repeated attempted suicides

The calls show detainees have repeatedly tried to harm themselves and expressed suicidal thoughts.

Two incidents have resulted in death. On Jan. 3, ICE said security guards responded after a 55-year-old Cuban man tried to harm himself and then used handcuffs and force to restrain him. A medical examiner ruled that Geraldo Lunas Campos's death was a homicide caused by asphyxia.

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On Jan. 14, staff reported that a 36-year-old Nicaraguan man died by suicide days after he was detained while working in Minnesota.

In addition to those cases, at least six other suicide attempts were reported, according to records from the City of El Paso.

The DHS spokesperson said the facility's staff "closely monitors at-risk detainees" and provides mental health treatment.

ICE has not released inspection results

The Washington Post reported in September that a required ICE inspection found conditions at the facility violated at least 60 federal standards for immigration detention. But that report has never been released, unlike dozens of other inspections at facilities posted on ICE's website.

DHS has called claims of violations described in the Post story false without explaining why the inspection report was wrong. ICE's current database on detention facilities indicates Camp East Montana has never been inspected but is scheduled for one this fiscal year.

A DHS spokesperson said ICE's Office of Detention Oversight recently completed an inspection at Camp East Montana but provided no other information and the results have not been made public.

Congresswoman calls for camp's closure and contract investigation

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat who has toured the camp several times, is calling for its closure.

"This facility should not be operational. It feels like this contractor is reinventing the wheel, and people are losing their lives in their experiment," she said.

She said the facility had temporarily cut its population below 1,900 when she visited last month and will be closed to visitors temporarily because of a measles outbreak.

On one visit, a female detainee showed Escobar a meager serving of scrambled eggs that was served still frozen in the middle. She learned detainees protested after they had stopped receiving juice, fruit and milk with their meals.

Escobar met with a detainee from Ecuador who said his arm had been broken during a violent arrest by immigration agents in Minnesota. Weeks later, the congresswoman could still the fractured bones in his forearm poking up under the skin.

Escobar called for an investigation into contractor Acquisition Logistics LLC, which was awarded a contract worth up to $1.3 billion to build and operate the camp. She said the company, which didn't return messages, and its subcontractors were not delivering services paid for by taxpayers.

"People should be moved by the abject cruelty, but if they're not, I hope they're moved by the fraud and corruption," Escobar said.

Foley reported from Iowa City, Iowa, and Biesecker reported from Washington.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 06, 2026

'Worse than a prison': 911 calls, interviews reveal problems at ICE's largest detention camp

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Serious medical and mental health emergencies have been routine at the nation's largest U.S. Im...

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Repatriation flights return citizens from the Middle East: What travelers need to know

Countries around the world are still working to safely return nationals stranded bywar in the Middle East, with more evacuation flights set to take off in the coming days.

However, the situation remains challenging and flight schedules are likely to be disrupted for some time, with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth telling media Thursday night that the fight has "only just begun."

The first chartered evacuation flight carryinghundreds of American citizens arrivedin the US Thursday afternoon, flying from Abu Dhabi and landing at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC.

Here's what travelers need to know.

Evacuations underway

Numerous countries have organized evacuation flights for stranded citizens. The UK's first evacuation charter flight from Oman landed Friday morning following a 24-hour delay. More charter flights have been arranged for the coming days, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told media Thursday.

European citizens have returned home to Bulgaria, Italy, Austria and Slovakia via at least six flights supported by the European Commisson, with additional repatriation flights planned in the coming days, according to a Thursday statement from the commission.

On Friday morning, Australia's foreign minister said four flights had already departed the region, with four more planned within 24 hours.

The US embassy in Israel announced it's nowoffering bus serviceto the Egyptian border for American citizens wanting to leave the country. The service will leave from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, taking Americans to the Taba border crossing.

Canadian nationals in Israel will be also be bused to the Egyptian border. In Beirut, limited numbers were being put on planes. The Canadian government was working to arrange charter flights out of the UAE as the airspace opened, Foreign Minister Anita Anand said at a press conference earlier this week.

New Zealand has sent two defense force planes to the region to potentially assist with evacuations.

What is the current aviation situation?

Thousands of international flights have been canceled each day since Sunday, according to data fromFlightAware.com, with the chaos likely to continue into the coming days for those still struggling to get out.

At one stage, more than 20,000 travelers were trapped in key hubs in the United Arab Emirates, home to major airlines, including Emirates and Etihad in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Thousands more were in Doha, the base for Qatar Airways.

All three of those cities are major global hubs, with millions of passengers transiting through them each year.

Emirates, which had suspended all flights to and from its bases, is now operating areduced flight schedule.

TheDubai Airports websiteadvises travelers not to proceed to the airport unless they have received a confirmed departure time directly from their airline.

Etihad Airwaysresumed a "limited commercial flight schedule" on Friday. "Guests with previous bookings will be accommodated on these flights as soon as possible," the airline's website says. Etihad is also selling tickets.

Qatar Airways' scheduled operations remained suspended through Friday. Operational updates will beposted here. However, the airline started operating a limited number of relief flights on Thursday departing from Muscat in Oman and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to aid stranded passengers. An update on Friday said the airline is working "around the clock" to organize more relief flights.

Israeli flag carrier El Al is working to repatriate its customers as well, with the airline's first rescue flight, from Athens, landing at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv Thursday morning.

El Al said Friday that it would begin carrying passengers, limited to 70 per flight, on its outbound flights from Israel starting the morning of Sunday, March 8.

"El Al will proactively contact customers who are not residents of Israel, are currently in Israel and whose flight home was canceled, and will assign them at no additional cost to the recovery flights departing to one of the 22 destinations to which EL AL is operating recovery flights," the airline said in asocial media post, which offered more details about how passengers would be prioritized.

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Outside the region, other airlines continue to reroute or cancel flights that had been scheduled to fly near the conflict zone.

German airlineLufthansa, for instance, has suspended regular flights to and from several destinations within the region. Lufthansa plans to resume flights to and from Larnaca in Cyprus on March 7, with flights in and out of some other affected destinations suspended through March 10 or beyond.

Affected travelers are advised to check with their airline or travel agent as soon as possible for information on rebooking and refunds, though airlines warn they are receiving high volumes of calls so wait times may be longer than usual.

Policies vary according to the airline, with options including refunds or fee-free rebooking.

What are governments advising?

The State Department has urged US citizens to leave a number of countries in the Middle East "due to serious safety risks." State Department security and travel information listed by country isposted online.

US citizens in countries including Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should fill out acrisis intake formto "receive departure assistance information from the Department of State about available aviation and ground transportation options," the department said.

Americans in countries not listed on the crisis intake site who wish to receive assistance can call the 24/7 hotline: +1-202-501-4444.

The State Department had earlier called on US citizens to depart "using available commercial travel" from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Other nations have issued similar warnings as they work to assist stranded travelers in the region.

Canada's government posted a notice on X advising travelers to "leave the United Arab Emirates as soon as you can secure a flight option." It has also advised Canadians to avoid all travel to Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Palestinian territories, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and the UAE and to avoid nonessential travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The United Kingdom's government says British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestinian territories, Qatar and the UAE should register their presence to receive direct updates from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The Australian government has opened an emergency portal for citizens in Israel, Iran, Qatar and the UAE, and warned its citizens overseas to be prepared for serious travel disruptions in the days ahead.

Australians have beenadvisednot to travel to most destinations in the Middle East. This includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Qatar, Syria, the UAE and Yemen. They should also reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

What about cruises?

Cruise ships in the regionhave also been affected, with thousands of passengers and crew waiting on vessels that have been waylaid in ports in the UAE and Qatar.

Among them isthe Mein Schiff 5, operated by Germany-based TUI Cruises, which is now in Doha Port after completing its itinerary. TUI has canceled other cruises scheduled to commence in the region in coming days.

TUI Cruises said that a special Emirates flight departed from Dubai to Munich with 218 guests from Mein Schiff 4, its vessel in Abu Dhabi.

Swiss-Italian operator MSC Cruises said its vessel, the MSC Euribia, is remaining in Dubai following guidance from US regional military authorities, according to Reuters.

On Friday, the company said in a statement that seven flights carrying MSC Euribia passengers had departed the region.

"These flights include dedicated charter services operated at MSC Cruises' expense, seats secured in partnership with Emirates and Fly Dubai on scheduled commercial services, as well as some government‑organised flights," said the cruise line, adding that travelers have been repatriated to countries including the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, the US and Brazil.

CNN's Mitchell McCluskey, Kylie Atwood, Sharon Braithwaite, James Frater, Jennifer Hansler, Kaanita Iyer, Trista Kurniawan, Rhea Mogul, Maureen O'Hare, Rebekah Riess, Laura Sharman, Billy Stockwell, Francesca Street, Paula Newton, Dana Karni and Hilary Whiteman contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 06, 2026

Repatriation flights return citizens from the Middle East: What travelers need to know

Countries around the world are still working to safely return nationals stranded bywar in the Middle East, with more evac...

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Kurdish Iranian dissidents in Iraq deny attack plans but say they would join a US invasion of Iran

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Officials with one of the armedKurdishIranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq told The Associated Press that they are not planning an imminent cross-border attack on Iran but would join a ground invasion if the U.S. were to launch one.

Iraq Iran Kurds

The comments appeared to be aimed at reassuring Iraqi Kurdish officials, who have said they do not want attacks to be launched against Iran from their territory, fearing that they will be further dragged into the war in the Middle East sparked by the U.S. and Israel's strikes on Iran.

In the event of a U.S. ground operation, "then we would enter alongside the coalition forces," said Khalil Nadiri, an official with the Kurdistan Freedom Party PAK, in an interview with the AP Thursday. But he said, "The Kurds must not place themselves as the spearhead of the attack."

He added that his group also has armed members already present inside of Iran and that they would not necessarily require cross-border support if they were to stage an uprising.

Nadiri said the Kurdish groups have been in contact with the U.S. and Israel but denied having received any material aid from them.

The comments came after Kurdish officials said earlier this week that the Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq are preparing for a potentialcross-bordermilitary operationin Iran, and the U.S. had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them

Rebaz Sharifi, a military commander with the PAK, said it would be "a very positive development" if the U.S. and its allies were to arm the Kurdish groups, but also denied that they have received any such support so far.

Sharifi said he expects that at some point, U.S. President Donald Trump "might want the peshmerga forces of Eastern Kurdistan to participate in the conflict during a ground invasion" and "if it reaches that point, we, for our part, would be pleased with it."

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However, the two officials sought to dispel the fears of Iraqi Kurdish officials that Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region would be used as a launching pad.

Peshawa Hawramani, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government, said in a statement earlier this week that "allegations claiming that we are part of a plan to arm and send Kurdish opposition parties into Iranian territory are completely unfounded" and that the Iraqi Kurdish parties do not want to "expand the war and tensions in the region."

Already Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of missiles and drone attacks into northern Iraq, targeting the U.S. bases and consulate in Irbil as well as bases of the Iranian Kurdish dissident groups.

Sharifi said PAK's bases have been attacked twice with ballistic missiles and four times with drones since the start of the war, killing one of their fighters and wounding three others.

Nadiri said that "since the (Iraqi) Kurdistan region has adopted a policy of not becoming a part of this conflict and because we do not want to disrupt the stability and security here and we respect the laws of this region, consequently, the environment has not yet been established for us to move our forces back into Eastern Kurdistan."

He was using the term used by Kurdish groups to refer to the Kurdish region of Iran.

The potential military involvement of the Kurds has raised tensions with other Iranian opposition groups - notably the faction led by the former shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, who has accused the Kurds of being separatists aiming to carve up Iran.

Sharifi said that his group's "ultimate goal is the statehood of the Kurds in all four regions and the reunification of Kurdistan," referring to the Kurdish areas that are currently split among Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.

Nadiri said that a confederal system could be a "viable solution" that would allow the Kurdish area to remain part of Iran while maintaining its "own sovereignty, identity, and unique characteristics."

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 06, 2026

Kurdish Iranian dissidents in Iraq deny attack plans but say they would join a US invasion of Iran

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Officials with one of the armedKurdishIranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq told The Associa...

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Hungary’s top diplomat stokes anger at anti-Ukraine protest with allegation of election meddling

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) —Hungary's pro-Russian foreign minister Friday accused neighboringUkraineof seeking to interfere in upcoming Hungarian elections in whichPrime Minister Viktor Orbánfaces anunprecedented challenge.

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó made the accusation in a speech to several hundred protesters outside Ukraine's embassy in Budapest. The demonstration, organized by a shadowy pro-government organization with ties to Orbán's Fidesz party, came the same day that Hungarydetained seven Ukrainian state-owned bank employeesand seized two armored cars carrying some $80 million in cash. Kyiv decried the move as illegal hostage taking.

Speaking at the protest, Szijjártó made a slew of unsubstantiated allegations, including that Ukraine had been coordinating with the European Union and Orbán's opposition to block Russian oil shipments to Hungary across the Druzhba pipeline.

Demonstrators shouted angrily when Szijjártó accused Ukraine of seeking to influence Hungary's April elections in order to bring in a government that would make decisions more favorable to Kyiv.

"This is something that will not happen in Hungary. There will be no pro-Ukraine government, and Hungary will not have a pro-Ukraine prime minister," Szijjártó said.

"Ukraine is fighting for itself, not for us and not in place of us, so we owe absolutely nothing to Ukraine," he said.

The demonstration, in which other ruling party politicians also spoke, came against a backdrop of rising tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, who are embroiled in abitter feudover Hungary's access to Russian oil through a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory.

Oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline have been interrupted since Jan. 27. Ukraine says a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline's infrastructure, and that repairing it carried risks to technicians. It said that even if restored, it would remain vulnerable to further Russian attacks.

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Hungary's government has accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up supplies of Russian crude, and has vowed to take strong countermeasures against Kyiv until oil flows resume.

Orbán, who has maintained close relations with the Kremlin while escalating anaggressive anti-Ukraine campaignahead of the election next month, has called Ukraine Hungary's "enemy," and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of seeking to provoke an energy crisis in order to sway the April 12 vote.

The Hungarian leader previously ceased diesel shipments to Ukraine, vetoed a new round of EU sanctions against Russia andblocked a major, 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) loanfor Kyiv in retaliation for the interruption in oil shipments. He's alsodeployed military forcesto key energy infrastructure sites across Hungary, accusing Ukraine of plotting disruptions.

Trailing in most polls behind a popular center-right challenger, the populist Orbán has staked the election on convincing voters that Ukraine poses an existential threat to Hungary's security.

In office since 2010, the EU's longest-serving leader has claimed that if he loses the election, the EU will force Hungary into bankruptcy by cutting Russian energy imports, and that Hungarian youth will be sent to their deaths on the front lines in Ukraine.

Szijjárto, the Hungarian foreign minister, traveled to Moscow on Wednesday for a cordialmeeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he sought guarantees from Russian authorities that Hungary would continue to have access to Russian oil and gas despite disruptions caused bythe war in the Middle Eastand interruptions to Druzhba flows.

On Friday, he said Ukraine had placed Hungary under an "oil blockade" meant to assist Orbán's challenger before the vote.

"They know precisely that if there is a crisis in Hungary's oil supply ... it is bad for the government," he said.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 06, 2026

Hungary’s top diplomat stokes anger at anti-Ukraine protest with allegation of election meddling

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) —Hungary's pro-Russian foreign minister Friday accused neighboringUkraineof seeking to interfe...

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U.K. Police Arrest Men on Suspicion of Spying for Iran

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Stamer during a news conference in London, England, on March 5, 2026. Credit - Tolga Akmen—Getty Images

Four men were arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of conducting surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in London to assist Iran.

The Metropolitan Police said the men, aged between 22 to 55, were "arrested as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation" under the National Security Act.

"The men were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023. The country to which the investigation relates is Iran," astatementconfirmed.

Detectives arrested the men shortly after 1 a.m., local time, at addresses in the London boroughs of Barnet, Harrow, and Watford as part of what police described as a "pre-planned operation." One of the men is an Iranian national; the other three are dual British-Iranian nationals.

Six additional men were arrested at the same location in Harrow, five on suspicion of assisting an offender and one on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

All of the men in question have been taken into police custody.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the arrests "are part of a long-running investigation and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it."

Acknowledging that the Jewish community, in particular, may be concerned, she urged the public to "remain vigilant" and contact the authorities if they witness or hear anything alarming.

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoodthankedpolice and security services following the arrests.

She said the authorities "won't hesitate to take action to counter any threat to the U.K." and have the "government's full support as they carry out their vital work."

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy declined to comment directly on the arrests, but said during aninterviewthat "Iran is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism globally and sadly, that is in effect in our own society as well. Our intelligence services and counter-terrorism police have thwarted lots of action over the last few years."

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Sgt Lee Goddard - MoD Crown/Getty " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Meanwhile, the U.K.-based charity Campaign Against Antisemitism expressed gratitude over the arrests, but said the threat from Iran is "still not being taken seriously by the Government" andarguedthat the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) should be proscribed as a terrorist organization in the U.K.

The U.K. arrests come amid the widening of the Iran war, which has engulfed several countries and territories across the world after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran last weekend which resulted in the death of IranianSupreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's retaliatory strikes have since targeted Gulf nations and also aBritish airbasein Cyprus.

While the U.K. refused to get involved in the initial U.S.-Israeli led strikes on Iran, it has since allowed the U.S. to use British bases and has launched defensive measures in a bid to protect U.K. citizens and allies against Iranian retaliation.

The government has also launched an extensiveoperationto bring home British citizens that are currently stranded in the Middle East.

The rise of antisemitic incidents in the U.K.

U.K.-based charity Community Security Trust (CST), which aims to "protect British Jews from terrorism and antisemitism,"recorded3,700 instances of anti-Jewish hate reported over the course of 2025, a 4% rise from the 3,556 incidents logged in 2024.

Only in 2023 has CST recorded more, when 4,298 cases of antisemitism were reported following a spike in incidents amid the immediate aftermath of October 7.

There were over 293,000 Jewish people living in the United Kingdom when the last comprehensivenational censuswas conducted in March 2021.

Cases of antisemitism and hate crimes towards Jewish Americans have also surged in recent years.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that in the three months following the start of the Israel-Hamas war,antisemitic incidents in the U.S. skyrocketed by 361%.

According to the State of Antisemitism in America 2025report, 91% of American Jews said they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the United States due to violent incidents including the arson attack on aJewish Governor's home, the firebombing of Jewish people inBoulder, and themurdersat the Capital Jewish Museum.

Contact usatletters@time.com.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 06, 2026

U.K. Police Arrest Men on Suspicion of Spying for Iran

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Stamer during a news conference in London, England, on March 5, 2026. Credit - Tolga Akmen—Getty...

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Will hurricane season 2026 be bad? Why experts are watching El Niño.

Like an oncoming ship on the distant horizon, the 2026 Atlantichurricane seasonis steadily approaching.

Now just over three months away, meteorologists are busy preparing their forecasts for the upcoming season, which begins June 1. And most eyes are on what's happening with theEl Niño/La Niña cyclein the tropical Pacific Ocean.

"The big question coming up for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is… will we get El Niño, and if we do, how strong will it be?," saidColorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbachin an email to USA TODAY.

Simply put, if we get an El Niño as expected, the Atlantic season may be less active than average. "Overall I'd expect a little bit less activity this year, but how much less is to be determined," said associate scientistAndy Hazelton of the University of Miamiin an email to USA TODAY.

According to theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average Atlantic hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 featured about 14 named storms, of which seven were hurricanes. Of those seven hurricanes, three were major hurricanes (Category 3 and higher).

How might the looming El Niño impact the Atlantic hurricane season?

El Niño, a natural warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean, can have an huge impact on the severity of the Atlantic hurricane season.

"Typically, El Niño leads to more rising air over the tropical Pacific, which then leads to stronger upper-level wind shear and sinking air across the tropical Atlantic," Hazelton said. "This usually reduces the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic, especially in the Caribbean and Gulf."

However, he said we've seen El Niño years where the Atlantic was very warm, and that offset some of the El Niño effects. 2023 was a good example, he added.

But an El Niño is no guarantee of a quiet season: "You can get major hurricane impacts during El Niño seasons. For example, the last 3 category 5 hurricanes to hit the U.S. (Camille 1969, Andrew 1992, and Michael 2018) all occurred during hurricane seasons as the ocean was transitioning to weak El Niño conditions," Hazelton said.

Hurricane Melissa hit the southwestern coast of Jamaica around 1 p.m. ET Tuesday with catastrophic winds speeds of about 185 mph after churning slowly toward the island nation. The hurricane center said Melissa's landfall is one of the most powerful in the Atlantic Basin's recorded history. As the storm's center moved across western Jamaica to its northern coast, Melissa became a Category 4 storm with winds of 145 mph and torrential rainfall that caused flash flooding and life-threatening storm surge, the hurricane center said.

A police officer inspects a car damaged by a fallen tree after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A store stands destroyed following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, on October 28, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A man looks at a fallen tree in St. Catherine, Jamaica, shortly before Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025.

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Category 5 Hurricane Melissa slams Jamaica: See the aftermath of catastrophic winds, rain

Hurricane Melissahit the southwestern coast of Jamaica around 1 p.m. ET Tuesday with catastrophic winds speeds of about 185 mph after churning slowly toward the island nation. The hurricane center said Melissa's landfall is one of the most powerful in the Atlantic Basin's recorded history. As the storm's center moved across western Jamaica to its northern coast, Melissa became a Category 4 storm with winds of 145 mph and torrential rainfall that caused flash flooding and life-threatening storm surge, the hurricane center said.A police officer inspects a car damaged by a fallen tree after the passage ofHurricane Melissa.

How likely is an El Niño?

NOAA's latest odds are pretty aggressive for moving away from La Niña quite quickly, with a 60% chance of neutral conditions by the February-April average (so probably the next few weeks), Klotzbach said.

Klotzbach added that upper-ocean heat content anomalies have really increased in recent weeks in the eastern/central tropical Pacific. "This often portends a transition away from La Niña to neutral (and possibly El Nino conditions)."

Looking toward the heart of the hurricane season, NOAA's latest outlook gives a 59% chance of El Niño for August - October.

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What other factors will affect the hurricane season?

Although the status of El Niño/La Niña is an important factor in the hurricane season, it's not the only one. Hazelton said that Atlantic water temperatures, particularly in the so-called "Main Development Region" in the Caribbean Sea and east of the Antilles, will be important.

"Right now it is near average there overall. If that region warms a lot, we may see the Atlantic 'fight back' against the developing El Nino, but if it doesn't, the Pacific may be in the driver's seat this season (in the form of El Nino)," Klotzbach said.

Klotzbach also pointed out that "the tropical Atlantic certainly is in a cooler state (thankfully!) then it has been the past couple of years at this point."

Hazelton added that it's also worth keeping an eye on Africa: A stronger African monsoon can offset some of the effects of El Niño and produce hurricanes in the east Atlantic, as we saw in 2015 and 2018-2019.

Could El Niño impact the eastern or central Pacific hurricane seasons?

Yes, El Niño tends to lead to more active Pacific seasons, though the details of where the warmest water sets up (eastern vs. central Pacific) may determine which basin is most above normal, Hazelton said.

Eastern Pacific hurricanes tend to stay out to sea and seldom impact the United States, except their remnants can soak the Southwest. Central Pacific hurricanes can impact Hawaii.

More:Hurricane Melissa now tied for strongest winds in an Atlantic storm

Still early for a hurricane forecast

"It is really early for a seasonal hurricane forecast," Klotzbach told USA TODAY. "One of the reasons why we don't put out a forecast in the February/March timeframe is because during the late winter/early spring, you can get really big changes in the atmosphere/ocean system," he said.

Klotzbach's team at Colorado State University will issue their first forecast for the season on April 9. Other forecasts will follow, including NOAA's, which comes out in late May.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, with a focus on weather and climate.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Hurricane season 2026 forecast developing as forecasters watch El Niño

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