The Easter pardons — applying to some young people, people over 60, women and foreigners — were the second such move this year after Havana unexpectedly released 51 prisoners in mid-March. The March releases were reportedly the result of diplomatic efforts by the Vatican, which has been acting as a potential mediator between Havana and Washington.

The US has been increasing pressure on Cuba to implement economic and political changes. Cuba, the communist-ruled island nation, has faced a prolonged economic crisis worsened in recent months by a US oil embargo. This week the US allowed a Russian tanker to deliver crude oil to the fuel-starved country, a development whose link to the pardons was not made explicit. Michael Bustamante, chair of Cuban studies at the University of Miami, told AFP it was plausible the moves signaled slow progress in talks between the two governments, though the outcome remained unclear. He added that who was included in the releases would help indicate their political significance.

The government said sex offenders and murderers would not be released, but it was not clear whether any political prisoners were among those pardoned. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the decisions were based on the nature of the crimes, good behavior in prison, health reasons and time served. He described the action as occurring “within the context of the religious observances of Holy Week — a customary practice within our criminal justice system and a reflection of the humanitarian legacy of the Revolution.”

Cuban government figures put the total freed in five prisoner releases since 2011 at more than 11,000.

The latest pardons come months after the US deposed ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and pressured Caracas to make radical changes, including releasing prisoners detained for political reasons and passing an amnesty law. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American and outspoken critic of Havana, has urged similar reforms in Cuba, saying the economy cannot be fixed without changing the system of government and warning that more developments were forthcoming.

Edited by: Karl Sexton

Officials said the raids involved Iranian-built Shahed drones fitted with jet engines that can cross the short distance from Russia to Kharkiv so quickly they are hard to intercept. An apartment building in Kharkiv was struck on Thursday, according to Reuters images.

Large daytime missile and drone strikes also struck Kyiv and surrounding areas, with the head of the local military administration, Mykola Kalashnyk, reporting at least one death in the capital region. Local officials reported three more fatalities in the northern Sumy region, one in Zhytomyr, and another in Kharkiv.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 542 drones and 37 missiles since Thursday night targeting critical infrastructure; air defense units reportedly downed 515 drones and 26 missiles.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of an “Easter escalation,” saying he spoke by phone with Pope Leo XIV while the attacks were under way and that the strikes had intensified rather than paused for the holiday. Zelenskyy had earlier said Kyiv was prepared for an Easter truce, but the Kremlin said it had received no proposals. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called Russia’s actions a rejection of diplomacy and demanded strong responses.

Peace talks brokered by the US have stalled in recent weeks amid the war in the Middle East, which has also created uncertainty about future arms supplies to Ukraine. Zelenskyy said he invited US negotiators to Kyiv as an alternative to a trilateral technical-team meeting and that the delegation would work under current circumstances.

A Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said Russian forces are trying new routes, deploying modernized drones and using fresh tactics, noting repeated patterns of overnight drone barrages followed by heavy daytime strikes as Moscow probes Ukrainian air defenses. The attacks have disrupted public services and educational institutions.

Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to the activity of Russian long-range aviation striking Ukrainian territory; the Polish military said duty jets were airborne and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance were at maximum readiness.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted 192 Ukrainian drones overnight, saying their flight paths suggested possible targets near oil export facilities by the St. Petersburg area. In Moscow, former president Dmitry Medvedev warned against a tolerant attitude toward possible Ukrainian EU membership, arguing the EU could evolve into a militarized bloc hostile to Russia and speculating about divisions within NATO and symbolic US moves.

Zelenskyy said the roughly 1,200-kilometer frontline in eastern Ukraine was largely stable and “slightly in the positive” for Ukraine. He reported no current large-scale threat, asserting Ukrainian forces repelled a planned Russian offensive last month and predicting Moscow would intensify assault operations. Russia controls just under 20% of Ukraine’s territory, much of it seized before the 2022 full-scale invasion; open-source analysis indicates Russian advances have slowed, with around 500 square kilometers gained since January. Zelenskyy said overall the front line is holding and the situation is the best it has been in the past 10 months.

Edited by: Karl Sexton

The move follows elections in December and January that were widely condemned by the United Nations and Western governments as a sham intended to legitimize continued military rule.

Min Aung Hlaing stepped down as commander-in-chief earlier this week to run in the vote and secured the required majority in parliament. He won 429 out of 584 votes. The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party captured more than 80% of seats.

The 69-year-old has been Myanmar’s de facto leader since the 2021 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was later sentenced to 27 years in prison in proceedings criticized by rights groups. Min Aung Hlaing handed command of the armed forces to Ye Win Oo, a close ally described as the military chief’s “eyes and ears,” before the vote.

Myanmar remains gripped by civil war since the coup, with nearly 93,000 people killed and more than 3.6 million displaced. Analysts say the transition represents a technical shift from military to formal presidential rule rather than a substantive change in who holds power.

Min Aung Hlaing, from the Dawei ethnic group, studied law before entering officer training school on his third attempt and building a long military career. He rose through the ranks and gained prominence during operations against ethnic insurgents.

He has been widely condemned internationally for his role in the 2017 military crackdown on the Rohingya minority, which forced about 750,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. In 2021 he led the coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and sparked the ongoing nationwide conflict.

Edited by: Karl Sexton

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that the occasion recalled Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. “May this day further deepen the values of harmony, compassion and forgiveness. May brotherhood and hope guide us all,” he wrote.

Opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended wishes of peace and love to the public on the Christian holy day.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan said Good Friday was an opportunity to reflect on Christ’s teachings of “humility, selflessness and righteousness” and to renew commitments to truth, kindness and social harmony.

Across India, devotees attended special services and public processions. In several locales, worshippers reenacted the crucifixion and joined Good Friday walks and processions, observing the solemnity of the day through prayer and communal remembrance.

The demonstrations, listed on the Network of the German Peace Movement’s website, range from “Bikes for Peace” tours and concerts to afternoon rallies with speeches addressing the wars in Iran, Gaza and Ukraine, the Rojava conflict in northern Syria, as well as human rights and climate justice.

This year’s marches will take place against the backdrop of the government’s decision to partially reintroduce military service. Since the start of the year, all 18-year-olds have been receiving a questionnaire from the German military assessing “motivation and suitability” for service. Young men are obliged to complete the forms; women, constitutionally exempt from compulsory service, may participate voluntarily.

The new law prompted nationwide school strikes and is likely to bring a larger contingent of young people to the Easter marches. Kristian Golla, spokesperson for the Network of the German Peace Movement, said about 20 of the demonstrations will include speakers addressing conscription.

Decentralized and issue-driven

Golla said the marches remain relevant because there are many ongoing conflicts to protest. “Whether it’s Ukraine and Russia, the Gulf region, Israel and Palestine, or the bombing of Iran — those will be the essential issues for the Easter marches, and of course the strengthening of international law,” he told DW.

The peace movement is de‑centrally organized, with no single body dictating topics or speakers. This year the Network is calling on the German government to launch diplomatic initiatives to end wars, bolster international law and provide more support for people affected by conflict. The statement also criticized what the Network termed the government’s “selective interpretation of international law,” arguing Germany should condemn US and Israeli attacks on Iran as strongly as it condemns Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Skepticism about big turnouts

Hendrik Hegemann, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH) in Hamburg, said he did not expect a dramatic surge in attendance. Part of the reason, he argued, is ambivalence around current conflicts. “On Ukraine, for example, it’s a more complex situation than with Iraq in 2003, the last phase of larger peace protests in Germany, where most people could agree that the attack was wrong,” he said. “Now we’ve just seen the fourth anniversary of the attack on Bucha and of course it’s more difficult to mobilize against strengthening Ukraine.”

Origins and evolution

Germany’s Easter peace marches began in the early 1960s, inspired by the UK’s Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. They grew through the Cold War, from a few thousand participants in the early 1960s to hundreds of thousands by 1968. Traditionally, churches, trade unions, left-wing parties and pacifist groups such as the German Peace Society (DFG-VK) have helped organize the events. Those pacifist groups, rooted in conscientious objection, have increasingly provided advice and support to young people seeking to refuse military service.

Challenges for organizers

Hegemann said the marches have struggled to mobilize people in recent years. “Those traditional organizations just don’t have that same mobilization potential anymore, and some of them have changed their own stances on peace policy,” he said. He added that the involvement of far‑right elements and divisive political figures — for example Sahra Wagenknecht, who has spoken out against militarization — has discouraged some potential participants by co‑opting the cause.

Still, he argued pacifism remains a meaningful voice in Germany’s public debate. “They certainly have less approval in the broader debate than they once had, but it remains an important position,” Hegemann said. “It’s a very old, very established tradition that especially in a time of re‑militarization tries to point to alternatives, tries to ensure that certain ideas get questioned.”

Security concerns and public mood

A sense of insecurity has grown in Germany. A February report from the Allensbach institute found only 55% of Germans now feel safe, down from 60% in 2025 and over 70% in 2019. About two‑thirds of Germans fear the country could become directly involved in a war. The Allensbach “Security Report” also found declining faith in NATO’s ability to protect Germany: only 42% believe the alliance would successfully repel a Russian attack, a drop of roughly 14 percentage points year‑on‑year, reflecting waning trust in the US as a security guarantor in Europe.

Golla said the international situation makes greater turnout plausible: “In light of the world situation, I do of course expect more people [than last year].” But he tempered expectations, noting poor weather forecasts could reduce numbers. “Still, I’m carefully optimistic that there will be more people than last year.”

Edited by Rina Goldenberg

Veronika Grimm, a member of a government advisory panel of economists, has recommended introducing temporary speed limits on Germany’s autobahns as a possible response to sharply rising petrol and diesel prices linked to the Iran conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. Grimm told the Rheinischer Post that such limits “wouldn’t do any harm — maybe even a smart signal, so that people take the situation seriously.”

The International Energy Agency has also urged measures to curb oil consumption amid the crisis, listing temporarily lower speed limits among possible steps. Grimm noted that many countries in the global south have already adopted restricting measures — from enforced work-from-home policies to limits on road use — and warned that continued high consumption would hit those countries hardest.

Fuel prices in Germany have surged: motorists’ group ADAC reported that on April 1 the all-day average for diesel reached a record €2.327 per liter, while Super E10 gasoline averaged €2.129 per liter. Those levels came two days after a new law limiting fuel retailers to one price increase per day took effect; ADAC suggested the rule may have prompted companies to apply a single, higher permitted increase, rather than moderating prices.

Any temporary speed limit proposal touches a sensitive issue in Germany. Around 70% of the autobahn network has no general speed limit, while most of the remainder is subject to a 130 km/h recommendation or limit. Grimm argued that a temporary restriction could serve both to reduce consumption and to signal the seriousness of the situation, even if it runs counter to longstanding driving freedoms on parts of the highway system.

Could those Iraqis be dragging their country into the Iran war? Experts say that is unlikely to be decisive for the conflict itself. Even if fighters are present, the war is being shaped primarily by airstrikes, missiles and broader regional calculations, Hayder al-Shakeri of Chatham House noted. Omar al-Nidawi of Enabling Peace in Iraq (EPIC) added that Iran does not need foot soldiers from Iraq; the convoy may be aimed at perception and deterrence, signaling Iran’s ability to mobilize allied militias across borders and suggesting the threat of wider escalation against US allies.

The greater danger, analysts say, lies inside Iraq. The convoy reportedly involved elements of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella of militias formed in 2014 to fight Islamic State. Roughly 238,000 personnel are counted under the PMF structure; the group has since been formally integrated into Iraq’s security apparatus, with pay and political representation. But the PMF is internally diverse. Some factions are closely aligned with Iran and are part of the so-called “axis of resistance” alongside Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. Other factions are more Iraqi-nationalist or pragmatic.

Since attacks on Iran by the US and Israel in late February, Iran-aligned militias in Iraq have launched strikes they say target American or Israeli interests. These have included attacks on diplomatic and military facilities, civilian infrastructure such as oil fields and hotels, and cross-border rocket fire. Even relatively small PMF factions can have an outsized effect if they launch attacks from Iraqi territory or provoke retaliation; that exposure can drag the whole country into broader conflict even though most Iraqis do not want such escalation.

The US has responded to some of these attacks by striking PMF strongholds—something it had previously tried to avoid—raising the risks of escalation on Iraqi soil. Baghdad convened an emergency parliamentary session, ordering the arrest of anyone attacking Iraqi security institutions, civilian sites or diplomatic missions. Yet in the same session it empowered all military units, including the PMF, to respond in self-defense to attacks on them. That ambiguous posture was criticized as effectively making Iraq a belligerent in the regional war by granting broad self-defense claims to militia elements, potentially rendering the state accountable for their actions.

The country’s security dilemma was underscored this week by the kidnapping of American journalist Shelley Kittleson in central Baghdad. Reports suggest the abductors were members of Kataib Hezbollah, a PMF faction; anonymous sources said the group had Kittleson’s name on a list of targets and later offered to negotiate for her release. If a PMF faction is responsible, it illustrates a troubling reality: both the forces pursuing the journalist and those who may have taken her are formally part of Iraq’s official security apparatus.

Tensions between state security institutions and Iran-aligned militias have risen during the current conflict. Some militias have attacked Iraqi state bodies—including the National Intelligence Service and the Counter-Terrorism Service—accusing them of ties to the US. The counter-terrorism units’ well-known training with American forces has been seized on by militias as evidence of collaboration. Sercan Caliskan of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies described this as a long-standing covert rivalry now reaching a dangerous threshold, with different elements of Iraq’s security architecture effectively pitted against one another.

This fragmentation is a structural problem. The PMF’s ambiguous status—simultaneously an official security actor and a collection of armed groups with independent agendas—creates space for kidnappings, coercion and attacks that intimidate institutions and undermine state authority. As pressure on these groups increases, their behavior may become more brazen and frequent, worsening instability and threatening civilians.

There are no easy solutions. Al-Nidawi likened the “hijacking” of the Iraqi state by armed groups to a decades-long train wreck whose debris is now scattering. Reducing Iran’s ability to exert influence in Iraq would help, but that seems unlikely in the near term. Another hope is that more pragmatic and politically entrenched PMF factions—those that prefer stability and benefit from Iraq’s political economy—could pressure the more militant elements to stand down. That dynamic is possible but limited.

A key obstacle to any coherent response is Iraq’s political paralysis: the country has not yet formed a new government since last November’s elections. Al-Shakeri argued that Baghdad’s immediate priority must be damage control—containing escalation and pushing for government formation. Only once a government is in place could there be meaningful openings for reform to clarify the PMF’s role, strengthen accountability, and restore state authority—though progress would still depend on internal actors committed to a stronger central state and on regional dynamics.

For now, the most urgent tasks for Iraqi leaders are to prevent further attacks from Iraqi territory that could invite external retaliation, to rebuild the capacity and cohesion of official security institutions, and to pursue political arrangements that reduce militia autonomy. If those steps fail, Iraq risks deeper destabilization even if it does not become a formal battleground in the Iran war. Edited by: Andreas Illmer

The burn occurred about 25 hours after the massive orange-and-white Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carrying the Orion capsule lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen reported to mission control around 10 minutes after the thruster firing: “We are getting just a beautiful view of the dark side of the Earth lit by the moon right now. Phenomenal.” Hansen said he and his crewmates were glued to the capsule’s windows as they left Earth and added, “Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of, and it’s your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the Moon.”

This final major thruster firing leaves the Orion capsule largely under the influence of orbital mechanics for the remainder of the mission. On their first day in space, the astronauts tested cameras and steered the Orion spacecraft; they also reported a minor toilet malfunction and email issues that were later fixed.

The 10-day mission aims to reach the farthest distance humans have ever traveled in space, sending the crew some 252,000 miles (406,000 kilometers) and surpassing the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. The astronauts will test the Orion spacecraft, designed for deep-space exploration, to help chart the path for a Moon landing planned for 2028 and for future missions to Mars. Artemis II is also the inaugural crewed flight of the SLS, NASA’s new lunar rocket.

The Artemis program includes several milestones, including the first Black astronaut, the first woman and the first non-American to take part in a lunar mission. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen will fly to about 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) past the Moon before turning back and heading straight home without landing on the lunar surface.

Edited by: Alex Berry

The final text authorizes states “to use all defensive means necessary and commensurate with the circumstances in the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters” to protect navigation and deter interference, for an initial period of at least six months. Russia and China had opposed earlier drafts that included language permitting “all necessary means.” Iran warned the Security Council against any “provocative action” ahead of the vote, saying such steps would further complicate the situation.

The vote followed a UK-led virtual meeting attended by more than 40 countries to discuss diplomatic and economic measures to pressure Iran to reopen the waterway. Gulf states have pressed for international efforts as the wider Iran–US–Israel conflict has paralyzed transit through the strait and sent oil and energy markets into turmoil.

Military and security developments
– Iran launched long-range missiles at Israel and some Gulf states; explosions were reported near Tehran and Isfahan. Israel, Bahrain and Kuwait issued alerts and activated air defenses. Israeli officials said at least one missile penetrated defenses and struck central Israel, causing damage to homes, roads and vehicles.
– Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed it shot down a US F-35 stealth jet over Iranian airspace and said the pilot likely did not survive. US Central Command has previously dismissed Iranian claims of downing US fighter jets.
– The US carried out strikes inside Iran that hit a bridge under construction near Tehran (the B1 bridge), which Iranian state media said wounded at least 95 people. US President Donald Trump posted that the US “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran,” warning “Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants,” a stance that raised legal and humanitarian concerns among experts.
– Gulf states reported attacks on energy infrastructure: Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery suffered fires after a drone attack; parts of a desalination plant and a power station were damaged. In Abu Dhabi, debris from intercepted ordnance fell at the Habshan gas plant, triggering a shutdown while emergency teams contained fires. Authorities reported no injuries at the gas facility.

Diplomacy and international responses
– France and South Korea agreed to cooperate on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and stabilizing the situation, though both leaders stopped short of detailing military plans. French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed proposals for reopening the strait by force as unrealistic and emphasized defining international conditions for easing the crisis.
– US President Trump publicly urged Asian allies, including South Korea and Japan, and other powers to help reopen the strait, while also criticizing NATO allies over their reluctance to engage in the conflict. In Germany, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said such comments were concerning but did not believe a US exit from NATO was likely.

Economic and humanitarian fallout
– Oil prices surged on fears of a prolonged conflict and supply disruptions. US benchmark crude jumped above $110 a barrel and Brent also rose sharply. Asian markets traded cautiously on Good Friday: Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi showed gains while China’s Shanghai Composite slipped.
– Global food prices rose in March, with the FAO Food Price Index up 2.4% from February, driven largely by higher energy costs tied to the conflict. FAO economists warned that sustained hostilities and elevated input costs could prompt farmers to reduce plantings or switch crops, potentially affecting yields and supplies this year and next.
– Europe signaled preparations for an energy crunch: policymakers urged reduced consumption and accelerated investments in renewables to cushion the impact of higher oil and gas prices.

Maritime developments
– A CMA CGM-operated container ship, the Maltese-flagged Kribi, managed to transit the Strait of Hormuz and exit the Gulf — the first known passage by a major European shipping group since the waterway was largely paralyzed after US and Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February. How the vessel completed the transit was initially unclear.

Analysis and outlook
The Security Council vote aimed to offer a multilateral, defensive framework to keep a key shipping lane open without endorsing offensive operations that could further escalate the war. But with missiles and strikes crossing borders, damage to civilian infrastructure, and economic shocks mounting, the risk of broader confrontation and prolonged disruption to energy and trade routes remains high. International efforts to combine diplomatic pressure, protective measures for navigation and energy contingency planning are likely to continue as governments weigh the risks of deeper military involvement.

The comments came in a video briefly posted by the White House on YouTube and later removed, in which Trump derided NATO allies for declining US operations in Iran and targeted Macron. Trump said he had asked France for help in the Gulf and imitated the French president, claiming, “whose wife treats him extremely badly. Still recovering from the right to the jaw,” an apparent reference to a video from last year that appeared to show Brigitte Macron pushing her husband’s face during a Vietnam visit.

Trump continued, quoting an imagined reply: “No no no, we cannot do that, Donald. We can do that after the war is won,” delivered in a mock French accent.

Macron called the remarks “neither elegant nor up to standard” and declined to engage. He said the priority should be efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and secure a ceasefire, criticizing the excess of public commentary on the matter. “We all need stability, calm, a return to peace — this isn’t a show!” he said.

Edited by: Alex Berry