War in Iran/Middle East/Gulf and beyond
(AFP/Al Arabiya) President Donald Trump angrily suggested Wednesday that he could leave US allies to secure the Hormuz strait on their own since they have refused to fight alongside US forces against Iran in the crucial shipping lane. – Trump suggests US could leave allies alone to secure Hormuz
(AFP/Al Arabiya) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday that if the United States had consulted Berlin about the US-Israel war against Iran, “we would have advised against taking this course of action.”. “We share with Israel and the United States the objective that Iran should no longer pose a threat in future,” Merz told parliament. – Germany ‘would have advised against’ US-Israel war on Iran: Merz
(Al Arabiya) As the war between Iran on one side and Israel and the United States on the other enters its 19th day, an Iranian Kurdish opposition leader has denied any contact between his party and Washington regarding a potential military role for Iranian Kurdish fighters inside Iran. Amir Karimi, co-chair of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), told Al Arabiya in response to a question about his party’s position on the strikes against Iran: “We support peace and are not in favor of war. This is our principle – not only as a party but as a Kurdish nation.” – Iranian Kurdish opposition leader says it’s time for ‘change and freedom’ in Iran
(AFP/Al Arabiya) US-Israeli strikes hit Iranian facilities at a major Gulf gas field on Wednesday causing a fire, Iranian state television reported. “Moments ago, parts of the gas facilities located in the South Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in Asaluyeh were struck by projectiles fired by the American-Zionist enemy,” state television reported, citing Ehsan Jahanian, the deputy governor of the southern Bushehr province, where the facility is located. – Israel, US hit Iranian facility at major gas field: Iranian state media
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Germany would like to see a change within Iran, but that will not be brought about through military means from the outside, said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Berlin on Wednesday. – German FM doubts military means will bring positive change to Iran
(AFP/Al Arabiya) The Israeli military said it planned to strike bridges and crossings over the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Wednesday to disrupt what it said were Hezbollah arms smuggling routes. – Israel military says plans to strike Litani River crossings in Lebanon
(Al Arabiya) US diplomat Tom Barrack on Tuesday denied reports that Washington had encouraged Syria to consider sending forces into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah. – US envoy denies claims Washington encouraging Syria to send forces to disarm Hezbollah
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Iranian media said on Wednesday that Israel and the United States had launched fresh strikes in across several areas of the country, including the capital Tehran. Among the locations hit were areas in Lorestan province and Hamedan city, both in the west of Iran, as well as Fars province in the south. – Israel, US strikes hit several parts across country: Iranian media
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) The Kremlin on Wednesday condemned what it called “the murder” of Iran’s leaders in US-Israeli airstrikes, a day after Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency confirmed that Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, had been killed in Tehran. “We unequivocally condemn any actions aimed at harming the health of, or indeed murdering or eliminating, members of the leadership of sovereign and independent Iran, as well as those of other countries. We condemn such actions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Russia’s reaction to Larijani’s death. – Kremlin condemns US-Israeli ‘murder’ of Iran’s leaders after Ali Larijani killing
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Since February 28, US-Israeli strikes on Iran have killed several senior political and military figures, hitting the core of the Islamic Republic’s leadership in a war that has spread across the Middle East, disrupting energy markets and shipping routes. The attacks, launched in the midst of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran mediated by Oman, are the most significant assault on Iran in decades, following a long-running shadow conflict and a 12-day war in June 2025. – Which senior Iranian officials are confirmed killed in US-Israeli strikes?
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the country’s forces had killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, adding that the military was authorized to kill any high-ranking Iranian official in its sights without seeking further approval. – Israel kills Iran’s intel minister Khatib, authorizes strikes on other senior officials
Technological Revolution
(DigWatch) North Lincolnshire Council has granted outline planning permission for the Elsham Tech Park, a proposed AI data centre campus that would rank among the largest of its kind in the UK. At full build-out, the site would include up to 15 hyperscale data centre buildings across 176 hectares, delivering more than 1.5 million square metres of floorspace and up to 1GW of computing capacity. The development is expected to cost between £5.5 billion and £7.5 billion to build and could attract up to £10 billion in private investment over its lifetime – Green light for massive UK AI tech park | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Partnerships across the robotics sector are positioning NVIDIA at the centre of what is increasingly described as ‘physical AI’, a shift towards intelligent machines capable of perceiving, reasoning and acting in real environments. A new generation of tools, including NVIDIA Cosmos world models and updated NVIDIA Isaac simulation frameworks, aims to support developers in training and validating robots before deployment. These systems enable companies to simulate complex environments, reducing the risks and costs of real-world testing. – NVIDIA expands physical AI ecosystem to accelerate real world robotics | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Unlike its predecessors, 6G is being designed from the ground up with AI as a core feature rather than a performance add-on. From user devices and base stations through to the network core, AI and machine learning will enable 6G networks to self-optimise, manage interference, predict user mobility, and make real-time decisions with minimal human intervention. – 6G will make wireless networks capable of thinking for themselves | Digital Watch Observatory
