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Hong Kong police have been granted new powers to demand that individuals suspected of breaching the city's national security law provide mobile phone or computer passwords. This move is part of a further crackdown on dissent in the city.The amendments to the law, published by the city government, also empower customs officers to seize items deemed to have a 'seditious intention', regardless of whether any person has been arrested for an offence endangering national security.Refusing to comply with the demand for passwords could lead to up to one year's jail and a fine of up to HK$100,000 ($12,773), while providing false or misleading information could bring up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to HK$500,000.The sweeping national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, punishes acts including subversion and collusion with foreign forces with up to life imprisonment. The law has sparked criticism from western governments and rights groups, but Beijing and Hong Kong officials say it was needed to restore stability after months of pro-democracy protests in 2019.Urania Chiu, a law lecturer in the UK researching Hong Kong, said the new provisions interfere with fundamental liberties, including the privacy of communication and the right to a fair trial. Chiu stated that 'the sweeping powers given to law enforcement officers without any need for judicial authorisation are grossly disproportionate to any legitimate aim the bylaw purports to achieve.'A Hong Kong government spokesperson said the amended rules conform to the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, and its human rights provisions, and 'will not affect the lives of the general public or the normal operation of institutions and organisations'. According to the Security Bureau, a total of 386 people have been arrested for national security crimes so far, with 176 people and four companies convicted.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a temporary ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which begins on Thursday and lasts until Tuesday. The decision was made amid weeks of deadly violence between the neighboring countries.Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the ceasefire was requested by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. He stated that Pakistan is offering this gesture in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms.However, Tarar also warned that if there are any cross-border attacks, drone attacks, or terrorist incidents inside Pakistan, military operations will immediately resume with renewed intensity.The Taliban government in Afghanistan also confirmed that it would temporarily suspend military operations against Pakistan.The ceasefire comes after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of killing hundreds of people in an air strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul. Pakistan has strongly rejected these claims, stating that it only targets terrorist infrastructure and military locations.The United Nations reported 143 deaths in the incident at the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility. The conflict has led to repeated cross-border clashes and air strikes inside Afghanistan, despite international calls for a ceasefire and concerns about a widening displacement crisis.The World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged all parties to de-escalate and prioritize peace and health, noting that at least six health facilities in Afghanistan have been affected by the violence since late February.The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the temporary truce as a positive gesture that contributes to de-escalation and promotes calm between the two sides. They hope the pause in fighting will pave the way for a return to a sustainable ceasefire agreement that spares civilian lives and achieves security and stability.

The United States' top intelligence official has identified Pakistan as one of five countries, alongside Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, whose advancing missile capabilities could eventually pose a threat to US territory. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard presented the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment before the Senate Intelligence Committee, highlighting that these countries are developing novel missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads that could reach the US homeland.Gabbard specifically noted that Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile development potentially includes Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) with a range capable of striking the US. The written assessment also flagged Pakistan across multiple threat categories, including missile technology and weapons of mass destruction.However, experts and Pakistani officials have pushed back against these claims. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Tahir Andrabi, stated that Pakistan's strategic capabilities are 'exclusively defensive' and aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and maintaining peace in South Asia. Experts also point out that Pakistan's longest-range operational missile, the Shaheen-III, has an estimated range of 2,750km, which is not sufficient to reach the US.The assessment has sparked a debate over intent, with some US officials suggesting that Pakistan might be developing missiles to deter Washington from intervening in a future India-Pakistan conflict. However, Pakistani analysts argue that Pakistan's deterrence posture is India-centric and not aimed at projecting power globally.The issue comes at a complex moment in US-Pakistan relations, which have undergone a diplomatic reset over the past year. US President Donald Trump has praised Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and has been involved in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The situation highlights the intricate dynamics at play in South Asia and the ongoing challenges in the region.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has taken a significant turn as foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim countries gathered in Riyadh for urgent discussions. The meeting, which included representatives from 12 countries, aimed to muster a common response to Iran's increasing retaliation against US assets and infrastructure in the region.The talks were held as Iran targeted several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar in retaliation against Israel's strike on the South Pars gasfield, Iran's biggest source of energy. This escalation comes after a series of Israeli assassinations of top Iranian security officials.The joint statement issued on Thursday confirmed that the countries present at the meeting, including Qatar, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, asserted the right of states to defend themselves, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter on defensive action.The foreign ministers condemned deliberate Iranian attacks with ballistic missiles and drones that have struck various targets, including residential areas, water desalination plants, oil facilities, airports, and diplomatic positions. They called on Iran to:Halt its attacks.Stop "provocative actions or threats" aimed at its neighbours.Cease supporting, financing, and arming pro-Iran proxy groups based in Arab states.Refrain from actions or threats aimed at blocking the Strait of Hormuz or threatening maritime security in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.The meeting yielded a unified response to Iran's increasingly unpredictable behaviour, but the joint statement was vague about how countries would follow this up. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized his country's right to defend itself and hinted that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states would act if necessary, adding that they have "very significant capacities and capabilities that they could bring to bear should they choose to do so".The Iranian leadership's response to these developments remains unclear, with New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei having not been seen in public since his appointment. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement saying that Iranian forces had responded to the "deceiving and lying enemy" that had targeted energy facilities in the country, and that they had "entered a new phase of warfare" to defend Iran's infrastructure.

Cape Town's iconic Bo-Kaap neighborhood, known for its brightly colored houses and rich cultural heritage, is under threat from rising property prices and foreign investment. The area, situated at the foot of Table Mountain, has long been a hub for the city's Muslim community, with its historic mosque, Auwal Masjid, dating back to 1794.However, the neighborhood's growing popularity with tourists and investors has led to a surge in property prices, making it increasingly difficult for long-time residents to afford to stay. Foreign buyers have accounted for around $168m in property sales across Cape Town's prime property market in the past year, according to data from the Seeff Property Group.Residents say the consequences are unfolding inside the neighborhood itself, with homes that once housed generations of the same families being sold to foreign investors or converted into short-term rentals like Airbnb. Younger residents are finding it hard to remain in the neighborhood, with many being priced out of the market.The Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association has expressed concerns about the impact of gentrification on the community, with chairperson Sheikh Dawood Terblanche stating that residents are being displaced due to rising property prices and municipal rates.The City of Cape Town has acknowledged the challenges facing neighborhoods like Bo-Kaap, citing rapid population growth and economic conditions as contributing factors. However, residents say more needs to be done to protect the community's cultural heritage and ensure that long-time residents are not priced out of their ancestral homes.

The relationship between Iran and African nations has emerged as a significant focal point in international diplomacy, with potential ripple effects that could reshape economic partnerships and political alliances across the continent. While the full extent of these connections remains to be fully explored, analysts suggest that developments in Iran's foreign policy and economic strategies may serve as a harbinger of future engagement models between Middle Eastern powers and African states.As global power dynamics continue to shift, the strategic importance of Africa's natural resources and growing markets has drawn increased attention from various international actors. The evolving relationship between Iran and African nations represents one of the emerging patterns in this complex geopolitical landscape, with potential implications for trade routes, security cooperation, and diplomatic influence in the coming decades.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL), the country's top domestic T20 cricket tournament, will take place in empty stadiums due to the recent surge in oil prices. The decision was announced by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, citing a fuel shortage caused by the Middle East conflict.The league, set to start on Thursday, will now be hosted in only two cities: Lahore and Karachi. The opening match will be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The PCB has also cancelled the opening ceremony that was scheduled to take place in Lahore.Pakistan is facing soaring oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East, prompting the government to advise citizens to restrict their movements. Naqvi stated that it wouldn't be feasible to have 30,000 people in stadiums daily while people are being asked to limit their travel.The PCB will refund tickets to fans who had purchased them and will also compensate franchise owners for the loss of revenue from gate receipts. Naqvi apologized to the four cities – Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, and Peshawar – that will no longer host PSL games this season.Several foreign players, including Australians Jake Fraser-McGurk and Spencer Johnson, South African Ottneil Baartman, and West Indian Gudakesh Motie, have pulled out of the PSL due to personal reasons. The PCB consulted with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the PCB patron, and the eight franchises before making the decision to stage the games without spectators.

Iran has granted safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz to ships from select countries, including Pakistan, India, and Turkey, despite its ongoing war with the United States. The strait, a vital waterway for global oil shipments, has been effectively blocked since the conflict began on February 28, causing oil prices to skyrocket above $100 per barrel.On March 2, Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced that the strait was 'closed' and warned that any vessels attempting to cross would be 'set ablaze' by the IRGC and the navy. This move led to a significant increase in oil prices, with Brent crude rising 2.5 percent to $105.70 on Monday, more than 40 percent higher than before the war began.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that Tehran had been approached by several countries seeking safe passage for their vessels, with the decision ultimately resting with the military. He confirmed that a group of vessels from 'different countries' had been allowed to pass through, although details were not provided.Pakistan was one of the first countries to have a ship pass through the strait, with a Pakistani-flagged Aframax tanker called Karachi sailing out of the Gulf on Sunday. India also secured permission for some of its vessels to pass through, with two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas safely crossing the strait on Saturday.In addition, Turkey obtained permission for one of its ships to pass through the strait after authorities received approval from Tehran. China is reportedly in talks with Iran to secure safe passage for its crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas carriers, with 45 percent of China's oil imports passing through the strait.Meanwhile, France and Italy have requested talks with Iran regarding safe passage for their ships, according to reports. The US has proposed a naval coalition to secure the strait, but countries such as Germany and Greece have ruled out military involvement.

US President Donald Trump has requested a delay in his highly anticipated trip to China, initially scheduled for March 31-April 2, by about a month. The decision comes amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, which has resulted in significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East. “We've requested that we delay it a month or so,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. “There's no tricks to it either. It's very simple. We've got a war going on. I think it's important that I be here.” The delay underscores how the Iran war has upended Trump's foreign policy agenda and risks magnifying tensions between Washington and Beijing. The war has joined trade and Taiwan as among the spectrum of issues separating the world's two biggest economies. Trump's request has been largely rebuffed so far, with China not directly responding to his request to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran says is closed to US and Israeli-linked vessels. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil usually transits. US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said earlier on Monday that Trump may need to delay the trip due to coordinating the war effort, not because of China's unresponsiveness to Trump's request or because of any trade disagreements. “The president wants to remain in DC to coordinate the war effort. Traveling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal,” Bessent said. In related trade negotiations, the Chinese showed openness to potential additional purchases of US agricultural goods, including poultry, beef, and non-soya bean row crops, during talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris.