“Our world is the most violent it has been since World War II. The number of people uprooted and forced to flee their homes is increasing by the hour,” Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), said in a statement on Monday.
The devastating conflict in the Middle East has crossed borders, shaken the world economy amid exponential price hikes in oil, fuel and gas, he said.
He pointed out that developing countries in Asia and Africa are likely to suffer the most severe impacts, and the number of people living in hunger globally is likely to increase by tens of millions this year, he said.
He urged all parties to implement all UN Security Council resolutions and end this chaos and people’s suffering through diplomatic and peaceful solutions.
UNOPS, formerly a part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was established as a separate, self-financing entity within the UN system on Jan. 1, 1995. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, it provides project management, procurement and infrastructure services in more than 100 countries worldwide.
UN says the world is currently experiencing its most violent period since World War II as the escalation in the Middle East continues
ZYT plans to present its advanced AI system at the Beijing auto show in April 2026, calling it a “mobility foundation model.”
Unlike traditional autonomous driving systems that build specific modules for detecting obstacles such as cars, pedestrians, and traffic signals, ZYT’s AI takes a different approach.
The system learns from a diverse range of data sources, including road traffic video, drones, robots, motorcycles, and even cameras carried by people.
This broad learning model allows the AI to make flexible driving decisions across various urban environments. The result is an AI that performs seamlessly in complex driving scenarios, even better than its CEO in Shenzhen’s busy streets.
ZYT sees this technology extending beyond autonomous vehicles and has plans to apply it to other robots and machines in the future.
ZYT is positioning itself as a strong competitor in the self‑driving technology race, competing against Chinese companies like Xpeng and international giants such as Tesla.
The company is also targeting the commercial sector, especially in long‑haul trucking. ZYT has formed partnerships with major Chinese truck manufacturers, including XCMG, SHACMAN, and SINOTRUK, to introduce its AI system to the trucking industry. ZYT believes that its AI can help trucking companies reduce operating costs and save on fuel.
FAW Group, a state‑owned Chinese automaker, acquired a significant stake in ZYT (around 35.8%), alleviating concerns about DJI’s control and helping expand ZYT’s reach.
ZYT is also working to make its system compatible with cheaper chips, allowing regular passenger cars to adopt the technology. The first vehicles featuring the AI are expected to be released by 2027.
ZYT has no immediate plans to enter the U.S. market but is testing its AI technology in Europe through collaborations with automaker Volkswagen. ZYT’s global aspirations are evident as it aims to make a lasting impact on the self‑driving industry across multiple sectors.
ZYT’s AI technology is set to revolutionize both the passenger and commercial driving sectors with its ability to handle complex urban environments, positioning itself as a key player in the global race for autonomous technology.
ZYT readies AI that can outdrive its own CEO on Shenzhen streets.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officiated the ceremony at the Kinderle Monument in the Northern Cape province, where the remains, which had been taken to Europe and held in local museums and other institutions during the colonial era, were laid to rest following a years-long repatriation process involving South African authorities and overseas institutions.
The remains included six individuals repatriated from Scotland and others long held at Iziko Museums, formerly the South African Museum, since the early 20th century. Many were originally exhumed without consent between the late 1800s and early 1900s, during a period when the remains of indigenous people were collected, traded and studied in support of racist scientific theories.
“A dignified burial is but the least we can do as the democratic government to honor these, our countrymen and countrywomen, who were victims of a terrible past,” Ramaphosa said.
He described how indigenous communities were dispossessed of land and subjected to violence and exploitation under colonial rule, adding that “not even death would spare them from indignity.”
“Their remains were dug up from graves and sold to museums and medical institutions in Europe,” he said.
The reburial forms part of a broader national program led by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to repatriate human remains and heritage objects taken during colonialism and apartheid.
“The return of our ancestors to their descendant communities is a vital act of restoration and restitution that goes beyond acknowledging the colonial legacy. It is also a manifestation of Ubuntu, a recognition of our common humanity,” Ramaphosa stressed.
“Today, as their remains are finally returned to the land from which they were taken, we restore the dignity that was so cruelly denied to them in life and even in death,” he said.
“They were not nobodies … They were our people,” he added.
Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to restoring dignity to the victims of colonialism and apartheid, noting that the Constitution calls for healing the divisions of the past and advancing social justice.
“Our Constitution obliges us to advance restitution for all those who were the victims of colonial and apartheid atrocities,” he said.
Coffins are carried during the reburial of remains of dozens of Africans
In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, one person was killed, and five more were wounded when drones and missiles hit residential areas. Several apartment buildings, private homes, a shop, and an industrial facility were damaged, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov, who shared photos showing fires and destruction.
“Russia launched a massive combined strike on Zaporizhzhia using drones and missiles,” Governor Ivan Fedorov said.
In the eastern Poltava region, two people died and 11 others were injured in similar attacks that struck homes and a hotel.
The strikes come shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday warned that intelligence reports showed Russia preparing a new, large‑scale offensive.
Russian drone, missile attack kills three in Ukraine.
Friendly countries recently sent messages to Iran indicating Washington’s desire to begin talks on ending the war, but Iran has not responded, the IRNA reported, citing Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.
Baghaei said Tehran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz, as well as its conditions to end the war, have not changed, the IRNA reported.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also denied the claim on social media platform X, saying “no negotiations have been held” with Washington.
Meanwhile, several media reports quoted Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, as saying that talks with the United States are meaningless in the current conditions.
Earlier in the day, Trump said he had ordered a five-day delay of planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy facilities, citing what he described as “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East.
Reuters, citing Israel officials, later reported that the United States is holding negotiations with Ghalibaf, and that the two sides could hold talks in Pakistan’s Islamabad as early as this week.
The developments came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on February 28, to which Iran and its regional allies responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East.
Iran’s declaration comes hours after President Trump said he had ordered a five-day delay of planned strikes on Iranian power plants and energy facilities, citing what he described as “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the two sides had held “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days aimed at resolving hostilities in the Middle East.
Based on the “in-depth, detailed, constructive” nature of the talks, he had instructed the Pentagon to postpone any strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days, pending further discussions.
Iran’s primary military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned on Sunday that power plants in countries hosting U.S. bases would be considered legitimate targets if the United States attacks Iran’s power facilities.
The statement came in response to remarks by Trump threatening to target Iran’s power infrastructure, according to Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
The Strait of Hormuz has not been fully closed and remains under Iran’s “smart control,” with non-harmful transit continuing under specific regulations to ensure national security and interests, the statement said.
If U.S. threats are carried out, Iran would immediately adopt several punitive measures, including the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz until damaged Iranian facilities are rebuilt, it said.
Other measures would include large-scale strikes on Israel’s power, energy and communications infrastructure, attacks on regional companies with U.S. capital ties, and targeting power facilities in countries hosting U.S. military bases.
The statement stressed that Iran would take “all necessary measures” to defend its national interests and would continue operations against U.S. and allied economic and energy infrastructure in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he had ordered the military to delay strikes on Iranian power plants and energy facilities for five days after what he called “productive” talks with Iran.
The Israeli military said it had begun a “wide-scale wave of strikes” targeting infrastructure in Tehran, though it did not provide further details. The attacks come as tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States continue to rise.
During the ongoing conflict, Iran tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply, raising concerns about disruptions to global trade.
US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Sunday demanding Iran reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz to all shipping. He warned that failure to comply could result in US strikes on Iranian power plants.
Iran responded with strong warnings. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said any US attack would trigger retaliation against energy infrastructure supplying American bases, as well as wider economic targets in the region.
Amid the escalating threats, civilians have been urged to take shelter with US Central Command chief Brad Cooper advising Iranians to remain indoors, warning that further strikes could target areas where military assets are allegedly embedded in civilian zones.
The conflict is also spreading across the Gulf where air defenses in countries including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia intercepted missiles and drones on Sunday.
Israel has launched a new wave of strikes targeting infrastructure in Iran
The statement came in response to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to target Iran’s power infrastructure, according to Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
The Strait of Hormuz has not been fully closed and remains under Iran’s “smart control,” with non-harmful transit continuing under specific regulations to ensure national security and interests, the statement said.
If U.S. threats are carried out, Iran would immediately adopt several punitive measures, including the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz until damaged Iranian facilities are rebuilt, it said.
Other measures would include large-scale strikes on Israel’s power, energy and communications infrastructure, attacks on regional companies with U.S. capital ties, and targeting power facilities in countries hosting U.S. military bases.
The statement stressed that Iran would take “all necessary measures” to defend its national interests and would continue operations against U.S. and allied economic and energy infrastructure in the region.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said the strike on Friday evening also injured 113 people, completely destroyed the upper floor of the hospital’s emergency department, and caused extensive damage to the hospital’s infrastructure and medical equipment, adding that a number of victims remain trapped under the rubble as search and rescue operations continue.
The RSF called the strike a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law,” urging an independent international investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Idris Khater, head of the civil administration in East Darfur, put the injuries at more than 90, and noted that most of the victims were women and children.
He said the strike, which completely destroyed the hospital’s emergency department, was a “direct targeting of a vital civilian institution.”
In a post on social media platform X, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan said it is “appalled” by the strike, and stressed the need to protect civilians and healthcare workers.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has not immediately commented on statements accusing it of launching the strike.
The SAF and RSF have been at war since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions inside Sudan and across the region. East Darfur, including its capital Al-Daein, has been under the control of the RSF since the early months of the conflict.
More than 60 people, including 12 children, were killed in a drone strike on Al-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, western Sudan, local and UN sources said.
What are these additional forces, what is their mission, and can they achieve it?
What are the additional forces?
U.S. media reported on Friday that the U.S. military’s amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, accompanied by the dock-landing ship USS Comstock and amphibious transport dock USS Portland, had left San Diego, California. They are transporting the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, comprising about 2,500 Marines, to the Middle East.
On Tuesday, maritime tracking data showed the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, carrying Marines and sailors to the Middle East, was nearing the Malacca Strait off Singapore as it made its way to the region. The Tripoli is the Navy’s most updated amphibious warship, known as a “big deck.”
A U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit typically has over 2,000 Marines. Its ground forces are equipped with armored vehicles and artillery, while its air combat element features Osprey aircraft, helicopters, and F-35 fighter jets.
Based on their location, it will take at least three weeks for the three warships, including the USS Boxer, to reach the Middle East. The USS Tripoli had already reached waters near Singapore earlier this week. Once assembled, U.S. troops in the region will reach 50,000.
A Marine Expeditionary Unit was last used in a U.S. raid on Venezuela earlier this year. The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima transported the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, along with Delta Force, for that military operation.
This file photo shows visitors watch the USS Iwo Jima as it sailed on the Hudson River during the “Parade of Ships” in New York, the United States, on May 25, 2011.
What is their mission?
Iran has restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, targeting ships associated with the United States and Israel. Blockade of this vital global energy route has driven up oil and gas prices worldwide, exacerbating inflation in the United States. Trump recently called on allies to send warships for escort operations in the strait, a request that has so far garnered little response.
U.S. media reported that the Trump administration is also considering deploying ground forces to Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil export hub, to seize it as leverage for restoring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Kharg Island lies about 25 km off Iran’s northwestern Gulf coast. Roughly 6 km long and 3 km wide, it handles about 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports because much of Iran’s coastline is too shallow for large tankers.
On March 12, U.S. forces carried out heavy strikes on the island, while deliberately sparing its oil facilities. Trump warned that any interference with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, by Iran or any other party, would prompt him to “immediately reconsider” that decision, leaving open the possibility of future strikes on the island’s energy infrastructure.
The photo released on July 21, 2019, shows the British oil tanker “Stena Impero” surrounded by speedboats of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran.
Can they achieve it?
Regarding the U.S. plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, military experts have said that success is unlikely without deploying ground forces to control Iran’s coastline.
“You’ll need to create a buffer zone on the ground if it’s determined that air strikes do not sufficiently decrease Iran’s ability to fire onto traffic transiting the straits,” said retired Army General James A. Marks. “That’s why Marines are en route. It’s a contingency force.”
Jason H. Campbell, a senior fellow on defense and security issues at the Middle East Institute in Washington, also said U.S. forces would need to take control of the Iranian coastline bordering the Strait and create a buffer zone.
However, analysts noted that, given low U.S. public support for military action against Iran and the failure to achieve a quick victory, using ground forces could pose significant political risks for the Trump administration.
A joint public opinion poll completed by Reuters and Ipsos on Thursday showed that 59 percent of Americans disapprove of the U.S. taking military action against Iran, while only 7 percent support sending ground troops to fight in Iran.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, recently told the media that Washington has not yet decided whether to deploy ground forces to Iran, “but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal.”
