UN chief affirms Iran's undeniable right to self-defense amid foreign aggression

The UN secretary-general has affirmed Iran's undeniable right to self-defense against foreign aggression, amid the latest unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic.

Antonio Guterres made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday.

The UN chief stressed the need to prevent the escalation of tensions and to reduce their humanitarian and security consequences in the region.

The comments came more than three weeks into the unlawful attacks that have targeted Iran's military and civilian infrastructures alike, leading to the martyrdom of numerous people, including the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and senior commanders as well as hundreds of women and children.

According to Iran's Red Crescent Society, the atrocities have damaged more than 70,000 civilian targets such as residential areas, business centers, schools, and vital infrastructures.

The Islamic Republic has retaliated by targeting sensitive and strategic Israeli and American assets throughout the region, including those lying in the regional countries cooperating with the aggressors.

Tehran has underlined its right to reprisal in line with international law, while urging states across the region to prevent their respective territories from being used as launch pads for attacks on Iranian soil.

'Resistance Economy in Light of National Unity, Security,' Leader announces slogan of New Year

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a message on the occasion of the Persian calendar New Year.

In a message on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated both the Eid of Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr, which have coincided this year, to the Iranian nation and to the Muslims worldwide.

"It is also necessary to congratulate everyone regarding the remarkable victories of Islam’s fighters," he said, also expressing condolences to all the families and survivors of the honorable martyrs of the US-Israeli aggression, as well as those of the January foreign-backed unrests.

Three wars in one year

In the first section of the message, he provided an overview of the important events of the past year.

"In the past year, our dear people have experienced three military and security wars," he said.

"The first war was the June war, when the Zionist enemy, with the special help of the United States and in the midst of negotiations, martyred some of the country's best commanders and prominent scientists and subsequently about 1,000 of our fellow citizens," Ayatollah Khamenei added.

"Because of a gross miscalculation, the enemy thought that after a day or two, it would be the people who would overthrow the Islamic system," he noted, adding that however, the "vigilance" of the Iranian nation and "bravery" of Islam's fighters foiled the Zionist plots.

The message categorized the "January Coup" as the nation's "second war," referring to the foreign-backed riots.

The Leader stated that the United States and the Zionist regime operated under the assumption that the Iranian populace was aligning with the enemy's vision due to imposed economic pressures.

These adversaries "used their mercenaries to create countless disasters and martyred more of our dear fellow citizens than in the previous war and caused a lot of damage," added Ayatollah Khamenei.

Transitioning to the current and ongoing conflict, which he designated as the "third war," the Leader recounted its tragic beginning.

"On the first day of which, with tearful eyes and sad and broken hearts, we bade farewell to the kind father of the Ummah, our great Leader," he said, referring to the US-Israeli assassination of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on February 28.

The Leader spoke of bidding farewell to numerous other casualties of the US-Israeli terrorist aggression, specifically mentioning the children of the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab and the "brave and oppressed stars of the Dena Destroyer."

The enemy's goal is to disintegrate Iran

The address further analyzed the strategic intent behind the current war. The Leader asserted it was launched after the enemy failed to rally a significant popular movement in its favor.

The enemy, Ayatollah Khamenei explained, operated under "the illusion that if it martyred the head of the establishment and a number of influential military figures, it would create fear and despair in you, our dear people, and cause you to leave the arena."

Ultimately, he warned, their goal was realizing "the dream of dominating Iran and then disintegrating it."

People dealt a 'confusing blow' to enemy

Despite these challenges, the Leader praised the public's response during the holy month. He noted that citizens "combined fasting with jihad and provided a vast defense line, as wide as the country," establishing strong fortifications throughout squares, neighborhoods, and mosques.

This widespread mobilization, the Leader noted, dealt the adversary "a confusing blow." As a result, he observed that the enemy "began to utter numerous contradictory words and many absurdities, which is a sign of lack of mindfulness and the existence of cognitive weakness."

Enemy facing more than drones and missiles

Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted the nation's recent triumphs over internal and external threats, emphasizing that the strength of the Iranian people far exceeds the military calculations of their adversaries.

Reflecting on the events of the past year, the Leader noted that the public had already suppressed a coup attempt on January 12. He further observed that the demonstrations on February 11 and March 12—the latter coinciding with Quds Day—served as a powerful display of "opposition to global arrogance and your tirelessness."

During these events, he stated, the enemy was made to realize that they were "not only dealing with missiles, drones, torpedoes, and military affairs."

He emphasized that "Iran's front line is much bigger than his [the enemies’] humble and small mentality."
The Leader expressed his gratitude to the citizens for "creating this great epic," while also commending the "brave, honest and popular president and other officials" for their presence among the people "immaculate and without formalities."

He also hailed the "incredible unity" currently witnessed among the Iranian people. The Leader noted that this cohesion exists "despite all the differences of religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins" and has resulted in a "breakdown" within the enemy's camp.

He described this unity as a "special blessing from the Almighty."

Turning to national security, the Leader issued a warning regarding "media operations" conducted by adversaries. He stated that these efforts intend to "undermine national unity and consequently national security by targeting the minds and souls of some among the people."

He urged domestic media outlets, regardless of political or intellectual differences, to "refrain from focusing on weaknesses," warning that negligence in this area could allow the enemy to reach its goals.

People's livelihood a 'focal point'

Ayatollah Khamenei also addressed the "economic war" facing the country. He noted that the late martyred Leader had consistently focused on the economy as the "slogan of the year."

To counter the enemy's exploitation of "economic and managerial weaknesses," the Leader asserted that "providing people's livelihood and improving the living and welfare infrastructures and creating wealth for the general public should be considered as a focal point and a kind of defense and even significant progress against the economic war waged by the enemy."

New Year slogan and economic strategy

Ayatollah Khamenei said that his understanding of the nation’s challenges is rooted in direct engagement with citizens. He shared an anecdote about his personal efforts to hear the "words of our dear people from all walks of life," stating, "During one period, for instance, I would ride along with you in a taxi – arranged at my request – through the streets of Tehran, with an anonymous group, listening to your conversations."

He noted that he regarded this method as "superior to many opinion polls" and found that his own understandings often aligned with public criticisms regarding "economic and managerial matters."

Based on these insights and expert studies, the Leader announced the formulation of a new "expert-tested remedy" for the country's challenges. Formally designating the theme for the new year, he declared: “Resistance Economy in light of National Unity and National Security.”

On relation with neighbors

Elsewhere in his message, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized a "serious and genuine" policy of engagement with neighboring nations.

The Leader identified several "spiritual elements" that strengthen these ties, including a shared devotion to Islam, sacred sites, shared ethnicity, and "common strategic interests, particularly in confronting the front of arrogance."

He specifically highlighted the importance of eastern neighbors, noting that "I consider our eastern neighbors to be very close to us."

He made a specific appeal for regional harmony, urging that "our two brotherly countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, establish better relations with each other – if only for the sake of divine pleasure and to avoid division among Muslims."

He added that he is personally "ready to take the necessary steps" to facilitate this improvement.

Leader warns of 'false flag' operations

Addressing recent security developments, the Leader clearly rejected Iran's involvement in strikes against Oman and Turkey. He said that "the attacks against Turkey and Oman – both of which have good relations with us—targeting certain locations in these countries, were in no way carried out by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic or the other forces of the Resistance Front."

"This is a ploy by the Zionist enemy, employing the false flag tactic to create discord between the Islamic Republic and its neighbors, and it may also occur in some other countries," he highlighted.

The message concluded with a prayer for the upcoming year, expressing hope for "triumph and all kinds of spiritual and material relief" for the nation, its neighbors, and the Resistance Front. The Leader closed the address by quoting the Holy Quran (28:6):

“And We desired to show favor to those who were oppressed in the earth, and to make them examples and to make them the inheritors, and to establish them in the land, and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts from them that of which they were apprehensive.”

China's Xiaomi plans $8.7b investment in AI over three years

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi will invest at least $8.7 million in artificial intelligence over the next three years, its founder said as he stressed the "need" for all companies to adapt to a "new era".

The company, one of the world's largest smartphone makers, has rapidly expanded since its launch in 2011 to produce electric vehicles, tablets and home appliances, and is now eyeing the AI market.

"In the field of AI, our plan for the next three years is to invest at least 60 billion yuan," founder Lei Jun said late Thursday at the launch event for its latest SU7 EV model, without specifying what the investment would target.

"There's no doubt that we are entering a new era," he said later that evening, adding that "individuals and companies all need to actively embrace this AI era."

Xiaomi unveiled three new AI models earlier in the day, two of which had previously been tested anonymously on a third-party developer platform.

"We have perhaps kept a relatively low profile, but our actual progress may be much faster than people from the outside realise," founder Lei said of the company's AI efforts.

Xiaomi's AI push, which began last year with the launch of its first large language model -- MiMo-V2-Flash -- is spearheaded by former DeepSeek researcher Luo Fuli, now heading a team whose average age is 25.

However, the three latest AI models are "truly built for the agent era", Luo said on social media.

Agents -- programmes that execute real-life tasks such as sending emails or booking flights -- are being touted as AI's next frontier after chatbots such as ChatGPT.

Xiaomi joins other Chinese tech giants racing to release similar AI agent tools.

Chinese media has speculated about the release of DeepSeek's next-generation V4 model, which could reportedly launch as early as April.

Unicorn startups Zhipu AI and MiniMax have also been seen as a litmus test for China's rapidly developing AI sector, drawing huge interest when they listed in Hong Kong in January.

Xiaomi also announced this month that it was testing a smartphone-based AI tool called MiClaw, allowing users to control their phones and home appliances using simple oral instructions.

First strike on US F-35: Iran hits stealth jet in central airspace

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has successfully hit a US Air Force F-35 stealth fighter jet in central Iran's airspace.

According to a statement released by the IRGC on its official news website on Thursday, the jet was struck at 2:50 a.m. local time by the IRGC’s advanced, modern air defense systems.

"The fate of the fighter jet is unclear and under investigation, and the likelihood of its crash is very high," it said.

The IRGC noted that the interception follows the successful downing of more than 125 US-Israeli drones by Iran’s defense systems, signaling significant and purposeful upgrades in the country’s integrated air defense network.

Further details on the incident are still under investigation.

CNN cited sources familiar with the incident as confirming that a US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a US airbase in West Asia after being struck by what is believed to have been Iranian fire.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, confirmed that the fifth-generation stealth jet was conducting a combat mission over Iran when it was forced to land. The incident is currently under investigation, he said.

This marks the first reported instance of Iranian forces hitting a US aircraft since the Israeli-American war of terrorism on Iran began in late February, with the unprovoked assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Both the United States and Israel have been deploying F-35s in the war, with each jet valued at over $100 million.

The alleged emergency landing comes amid continued claims from senior US officials regarding the success of its terrorist operations against Iran.

Extremist US war secretary Pete Hegseth boasted on Thursday morning that the US is “winning decisively” and emphasized that Iran’s air defenses have been “flattened.”

Hegseth has made numerous controversial statements, in which he sees America’s military aggressions, especially against Islamic nations, as part of a larger crusade seeking to bring about Armageddon.

His extremism is reflected in his tattoos, including the Jerusalem Cross, a religious symbol associated with the violent Crusades of Europeans to reclaim al-Quds from Muslims and the phrase “Deus Vult” (“God Wills It”) inked on his body, a rallying cry of the Crusaders.

These tattoos, along with his self-published book American Crusade, which frames the fight against Islam as a modern-day “crusade,” have reportedly sparked numerous complaints from his service members who see an apparent connection between his extremist worldview and the ongoing terrorist war on Iran.

5G licences issued to three companies

Pakistan has moved a step closer to the launch of 5G services, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issuing licences to three telecom companies, paving the way for the rollout of next-generation mobile connectivity in the country.

The licences were formally awarded during a ceremony held at the Prime Minister's House on Thursday, attended by Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the PTA chairman, chief executives of telecom companies and members of the federal cabinet.

Licences have been granted simultaneously to all three major telecom operators, enabling them to begin preparations for launching 5G services.

PTA officials said the initial rollout is expected as early as Eid-ul-Fitr, with limited areas of Islamabad likely to experience high-speed connectivity during the festive period.

The development marks a significant step in Pakistan’s digital transformation, as the government aims to enhance connectivity, support emerging technologies and improve overall telecom infrastructure through the introduction of 5G services.

PTA officials confirmed that telecom companies have already submitted the required bank guarantees to the PTA.

Under the licensing terms, each company is obligated to provide a $15 million bank guarantee to meet compliance conditions.

The licence requirements also mandate each operator to establish at least 1,000 new telecom sites and ensure coverage in remote and underserved areas.

The PTA recently concluded the 5G spectrum auction, selling 480 MHz out of the total 597 MHz available.

The auction is expected to generate approximately $510 million in revenue for the government.

American intelligence chief calls Pakistani missile program a threat to US

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has identified Pakistan among countries posing a growing strategic concern, warning that Islamabad’s evolving long-range missile capabilities could potentially bring the American homeland within range.

Presenting the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Gabbard also named Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea as nations actively developing new missile delivery systems, including both nuclear and conventional warheads, which put the US within range.

“The US secure nuclear deterrent continues to ensure safety in the homeland against strategic threats. However, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and Pakistan have been researching and developing an array of novel, advanced, or traditional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads that put our homeland within range,” Gabbard said.

She noted that Pakistan’s ballistic missile development “potentially could include intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)” capable of reaching the US homeland.

Gabbard also warned that the number of missile threats facing the US was expected to rise sharply, with the intelligence community projecting that global missile inventories could exceed 16,000 by 2035, up from more than 3,000 currently.

She added that the countries identified in the report would likely seek to understand US missile defence plans in order to shape their own development programmes and assess Washington’s deterrence posture.

Reacting to the remarks, former Pakistani ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani rejected the claim that Pakistan posed a direct missile threat to the American homeland.

In a statement, Jilani said Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine was India-centric and aimed at deterrence, not global power projection, adding that Islamabad’s strategic posture was focused on regional security dynamics.

Meanwhile, Turkish analyst Shaqeq-ud-Din questioned the assessment, arguing that Pakistan did not possess intercontinental ballistic missiles, while raising concerns about India’s growing ICBM capabilities, which he said were expanding with external support.

He termed the classification of threats selective, questioning whether similar scrutiny was being applied uniformly to all countries.

South Asia threat assessment

The threat assessment report noted that South Asia remained a source of “enduring security challenges”, particularly the relations between Pakistan and India, for the US.

"Pakistan-India relations remain a risk for nuclear conflict given past conflicts where these two nuclear states squared off, creating the danger of escalation," it stated. It also mentioned the Pahalgam attack that triggered a war between the two neighbours.

“President Trump’s intervention deescalated the most recent nuclear tensions, and we assess that neither country seeks to return to open conflict, but that conditions exist for terrorist actors to continue to create catalysts for crises,” it stated.

The report also highlighted tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, stating: “Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have been tense, with intermittent cross-border clashes, as Islamabad has become increasingly frustrated with anti-Pakistan terrorist groups’ presence in Afghanistan while Islamabad faces growing terrorist violence.”

“Pakistan’s army chief warned this month that lasting peace requires the Taliban to sever ties with militants targeting Pakistan.

The Taliban’s public posture has been to call for dialogue, but it has denied harbouring anti-Pakistani militants,” it said, while referring to the ongoing war between the two states.

Is X down? Users report widespread app outage

X (formerly Twitter) has reportedly grappled with a severe outage today, affecting tens of thousands of users around the world.

As per Downdetector, a web outage tracking site, Elon Musk's owned platform experienced a major outage, with more than 40,000 reports of issues as of 11:53 a.m. ET on March 18, 2026.

The X outage hit during morning hours in the US, a high-traffic time for the platform.

Users from all across the globe, including the United States and United Kingdom reported that their feeds weren't updating, while some are facing trouble logging in, and other issues as well.

In the US, nearly 46% of users are unable to access the app, 30% reported feed/ timeline related issues, and the remaining 15% are unable to use the website.

This major X outage marks the fourth outage this year, which is followed by three previous disruptions on January 13, January 16, and February 16, 2026, which caused problems for thousands of users worldwide.

Notably, X has yet to officially address the outage.