World

Wars often begin as 'limited operations', but mission creep transforms them into long-term crises. The current actions by the US and Israeli regimes in Iran and other regions demonstrate this recurring pattern, where initial objectives shift towards abstract goals like 'restoring deterrence'. History indicates that such expansion is accelerated by retaliation cycles, political pressures, and market shocks, pulling governments deeper into conflicts with no clear endpoint.

Newcastle United will host Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, March 10, at 8:00 PM GMT at St James' Park in Newcastle, England. This match marks only Newcastle's second appearance in the Champions League knockout stages since the 2002-03 season, when they reached the second group phase. However, Newcastle, currently languishing in 12th place in the Premier League and recently knocked out of the FA Cup, face a daunting challenge against La Liga leaders and five-time European champions Barcelona.

Iranian Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian told Al Jazeera that US-Israeli attacks across the country have killed and wounded predominantly civilians, while the bombardment of oil facilities has caused toxic smoke to spread over the capital, Tehran, raising severe public health concerns.

The largest defence companies in the United States, including RTX (formerly Raytheon), Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, L3Harris Missile Solutions, and Honeywell Aerospace, have agreed to "quadruple production" of what former President Donald Trump describes as "exquisite class" weaponry after a meeting at the White House. The meeting on Friday was attended by chief executives of these firms, all sitting on billions of dollars in order backlogs, some of which reportedly dwarf the gross domestic products of several nations.

The Uzbek Hydrometeorological Service (UzGidromet) has officially stated that rumors circulating on social media about 'acid clouds' forming in Iran and potentially reaching Central Asian territories are scientifically unfounded. The agency emphasized: "This information lacks scientific basis, and the transport of acid precipitation to the territory of Uzbekistan and neighboring states is practically impossible."

The United States and Israel continued their attacks on Iran as the war entered its 10th day on Monday. More than a week after the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, the Iranian authorities have named his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor.

Veteran Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time proponent of US military intervention abroad, has issued a stark warning to the Iranian government, suggesting it is worth spending money to "take this regime down". In an interview with Fox News, Graham claimed that "when this regime goes down, we are going to have a new Middle East, and we are going to make a tonne of money".

Uzbek grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov emerged victorious at the Prague International Chess Festival 2026, held from February 25 to March 6 in Prague, Czech Republic. This marks his second championship title at this festival after winning in 2024, with him having skipped the 2025 edition. According to festival organizers, Abdusattorov has become the first-ever two-time Masters champion in the event's history, highlighting his consistent elite performance in international chess.

Videos have circulated on social media showing first-graders and other students in the “Junariq” neighborhood of Sergeli District, Tashkent, being forced to cross a canal using narrow utility pipes as their only route to school daily. The footage depicts children balancing on pipes over open water, raising serious safety concerns among residents and online users.

Tests conducted in Germany have revealed that children and adolescents are contaminated with banned and potentially toxic plasticizers. These chemicals are ubiquitous in items such as clothing, cosmetics, and food packaging, posing risks to human health.

Social media has been circulating claims that so-called 'acid clouds' have formed over Iranian territory and could reach Central Asian countries through precipitation. Uzbekistan's Hydrometeorological Service (Uzhydromet) has officially stated that these claims lack scientific basis.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney struck a tone of thoughtful statesmanship at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, with his speech receiving reverent approval for its serious approach to global responsibility. He warned of the perils of geopolitical brinkmanship, spoke about restraint, and urged the world's most powerful governments to resist the seduction of reckless escalation. This performance was ostensibly meant to position Canada as a moderating force in a chaotic world.