Afghanistan – Pakistan
(Sophia Saifi, Masoud Popalzai and Rhea Mogul – CNN) Afghanistan and Pakistan are fighting again, trading deadly shelling and mortar fire across their rugged border, with Islamabad’s defense minister saying his country’s patience had “run out” and declaring “open war” on its Taliban-run neighbor. It’s the latest flare-up in an on-off conflict that pitches Pakistan’s well-funded, powerful and nuclear-armed military against hardened Afghan Taliban fighters with decades of battle experience – including victory over US and NATO forces in 2021 after years of insurgency. Here’s what we know about the latest violence, which threatens to exacerbate instability in the region. – Why are Pakistan and Afghanistan launching attacks, with Pakistani official declaring ‘open war’? | CNN
Epstein files
(James FitzGerald, Nada Tawfik – BBC) Hillary Clinton told a congressional panel she “had no idea” about Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, as she called for lawmakers to question President Donald Trump under oath about his past association with the late sex offender. “I want to see the truth come out,” the ex-US secretary of state said after testifying behind closed doors for hours to a congressional committee investigating Epstein. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will testify on Friday. The couple had resisted a subpoena from the panel, dismissing it as politically motivated, before agreeing to testify as potential contempt-of-Congress proceedings loomed against them. The Clintons and Trump deny wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. – Hillary Clinton tells House panel she ‘had no idea’ of Epstein’s crimes
(Emir Naderand, Samuel Owers – BBC) Jeffrey Epstein tried to buy a multimillion-dollar palace in Morocco the day before his arrest in 2019, according to documents released by the US Department of Justice last month. Epstein had pursued acquiring Bin Ennakhil since 2011, but disputes with the seller over the price and purchase arrangement dragged on for years. The grand palace in the luxury Palmeraie neighbourhood of Marrakech has been described as an architectural masterpiece, built by 1,300 craftsmen and featuring ornate carvings and mosaics. Epstein signed a $14.95m (£11m) wire transfer on 5 July 2019, the day before his arrest, following an agreement to buy the offshore company that owned the property for €18m (£13.3m). – Jeffrey Epstein tried to buy palace in Morocco days before arrest
France – US – Europe
(Melissa Bell – CNN) As far as the French are concerned, the case is now closed. The US ambassador to Paris, Charles Kushner’s access to the French government has been restored, allowing him to resume his diplomatic duties. But the row that briefly threatened to derail the Franco-US friendship in the year of its 250th anniversary illustrates a deeper problem now facing Europe as it tackles increasingly open US interference in its internal political affairs. France’s foreign minister summoned Kushner this week after the embassy reposted comments from the US State Department saying the recent killing of a far-right activist in France showed that “violent radical extremism is on the rise,” then briefly blocked him from speaking to government ministers when he failed to show up. French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm ahead of a rally held on Saturday by far-right groups in memory of Quentin Deranque, the 23-year-old far-right activist whose killing earlier this month at a demonstration in Lyon had deepened political polarization ahead of next month’s municipal elections. – Charles Kushner: How US envoy’s ‘incomprehension’ of diplomacy stunned France | CNN
Gaza – Israel
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Gaza’s civil defense agency said Israeli strikes killed at least five people on Friday, the latest violence despite a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The agency, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas authorities, told AFP that an air strike in the early hours of Friday morning killed at least two people and seriously injured one in central Gaza. – Gaza civil defense says Israeli strikes kill at least five
Iran
(AFP/Al Arabiya) China told its citizens on Friday to evacuate from Iran “as soon as possible,” and those in Israel to strengthen preparedness, citing a significant rise in security risks in the Middle East. “Chinese nationals currently in Iran are advised to strengthen safety precautions and evacuate as soon as possible,” the foreign ministry said in a social media statement. – China urges citizens to evacuate from Iran ‘as soon as possible’
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Some of Iran’s most highly enriched uranium, close to weapons grade, was stored in an underground area of its nuclear site in Isfahan, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a confidential report sent to member states on Friday and seen by Reuters. – Iran stored highly enriched uranium at underground site, IAEA report says
(Al Arabiya) A powerful Iran-backed Iraqi armed group told its fighters to prepare for the scenario of a long war in neighboring Iran should the United States launch strikes. Kataib Hezbollah warned the US on Thursday of “immense losses” were it to start a war in the region, while a commander in an armed faction told AFP his group was “highly likely” to intervene in case of strikes. – Iraq armed group tells fighters to prepare for long Iran-US war
(Al Arabiya) Britain said on Friday it had temporarily withdrawn its staff from Iran citing the security situation in the region. Britain’s foreign office said its ability to assist British nationals was now extremely limited, with the embassy operating remotely and no in-person consular support available even in emergencies. – UK withdraws staff from Iran temporarily over security fears tied to US-Iran standoff
(Al Arabiya) Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that in order to reach a deal, the United States will have to drop its “excessive demands,” after the two sides held talks in Geneva. In a phone call with Egypt’s top diplomat Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi said “success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands.” – Iran urges US to drop ‘excessive demands’ to reach deal
(Al Arabiya) The US embassy in Baghdad carried out a security drill simulating an emergency evacuation, sources told Al Arabiya on Friday. The exercise coincided with rising regional tensions amid talks between Iran and the US seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war. – US embassy in Baghdad conducts evacuation drill amid Iran tensions, sources say
Iraq
(AFP/Al Arabiya) The leading candidate to become Iraq’s next prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, met with US diplomat Tom Barrack on Friday after refusing to withdraw his nomination despite the US threatening to stop supporting the country if he returns to the post. Barrack, the US envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, has recently visited Iraq multiple times to meet with senior officials. – US envoy Barrack meets Iraq’s ex-prime minister Maliki
Russia – Ukraine
(Al Arabiya) Ghana’s foreign minister said Friday that 55 Ghanaians had been killed while fighting in Ukraine, among hundreds of Africans said to have been lured to fight there for Russia. “We were informed that 272 Ghanaians are believed to have been lured into battle since 2022 for which an estimated 55 have been killed and 2 captured as prisoners of war,” minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said on X. – Over 50 Ghanaians killed fighting in Ukraine: Minister
(Al Arabiya) Ukraine shot down a drone close to the border with Romania during a Russian attack on Ukrainian port infrastructure early on Friday, Romania’s defense ministry said. The ministry said in a statement that it had scrambled fighter jets to monitor the attack and that the drone was brought down 100 meters (110 yards) from the Romanian village of Chilia Veche, which lies across the Danube River from Ukraine. – Ukraine shoots down drone near Romanian border, Bucharest says
UK
(CNN/Reuters) Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party suffered an embarrassing election defeat on Friday in an area of Greater Manchester that it had dominated for almost a century, a loss that underscores the breakdown of Britain’s two-party politics. The loss of one of Labour’s safest seats, in the biggest electoral test in almost a year, puts further pressure on Starmer to prove that he should keep his job following weeks of political turmoil and calls for him to resign. The left-wing Green Party’s Hannah Spencer won the contest for the vacant parliamentary seat of Gorton and Denton, with Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK party coming second, and Labour pushed into third place. The result was “clearly disappointing,” said Labour party chair Anna Turley. – UK’s Green Party wins Gorton and Denton by-election, Keir Starmer suffers embarrassing defeat | CNN
US – Israel
(Al Arabiya) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel next week amid heightened regional tensions and growing speculation over potential US military action against Iran. Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel from March 2-3, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said. – Rubio’s trip to Israel will go ahead next week: State Department
(AFP/Al Arabiya) The United States authorized the departure of non-emergency embassy staff from Israel on Friday, as it threatened strikes on Iran and pressed its biggest military build-up in the Middle East in decades. The move came a day after a round of Oman-mediated talks between Iran and the US seen as a last-ditch bid to avert war, though initial optimism was tempered by Tehran warning Washington must drop “excessive demands” to reach a deal. – US allows non-emergency staff to leave Israel as Trump threatens Iran strikes
US – Israel – Palestine
(Avery Lotz – Axios) For the first time in 25 years of Gallup polling, more Americans say they sympathize with Palestinians than with Israelis — a striking shift in U.S. public opinion. Why it matters: The reversal reflects a dramatic shift in attitudes toward Israel — a key U.S. ally — after its war with Hamas triggered a humanitarian crisis and reshaped the Middle East. – Israelis fall behind Palestinians in American sympathies: poll
