Energy infrastructure becomes the battlefield: South Pars and Ras Laffan hit as Hormuz traffic craters and prices jump ()

Broadcasts across regions describe a step-change in the Iran–Israel war: strikes moving from military targets into the Gulf’s core gas system, paired with coercion in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Tensions between Iran and its neighbours have escalated sharply following an attack on Iranian facilities in the South Pars gas field, reportedly by Israel."

Qatar then reported that Iranian missiles reached its main LNG industrial zone, Ras Laffan—central to global gas supply.

"the authorities there are saying that about five missiles were fired towards them. All were intercepted but one, and that hit the Ras Laffan industrial city."

"Ras Laffan is where its liquefied natural gas main production facility is. Qatar is a main supplier of this around the world."

Doha’s response escalated diplomatically, as Al Jazeera Arabic reported expulsions from the Iranian embassy.

"وأمهلتهم 24 ساعة لمغادرة البلاد." "“And it gave them 24 hours to leave the country.”"

At sea, Iranian messaging and reported actions tightened the chokepoint. RFI aired Tehran’s claim of control and denial of passage during the conflict.

"« c’est l’Iran qui a le contrôle du détroit d’Ormuz et du golfe Persique, et qu’aucune goutte de pétrole — ni de gaz d’ailleurs — ne passera par le détroit tant que le conflit dure. »" "“It is Iran that controls the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, and not a drop of oil—nor gas either—will pass through the strait as long as the conflict lasts.”"

Al Jazeera Arabic described a near-standstill in transit, amplifying the shock of infrastructure attacks.

"تراجعت حركة العبور في مضيق هرمز بنسبة 97% عما كانت عليه في الفترة التي سبقت اندلاع الحرب." "“Transit through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen by 97% compared with the period before the war began.”"

Markets reacted in real time as the risk shifted from threat to damage.

"We have Brent up 7% at $111 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate up 4% at $100."

Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions spike after Taliban claims Pakistani strike hit a Kabul hospital, killing “at least 400” ()

NHK World Japan reported sharply conflicting accounts from Kabul and Islamabad after a strike in Afghanistan’s capital that Taliban authorities say caused mass civilian casualties.

"a Pakistani airstrike on a hospital in Kabul has left at least 400 people dead and about 250 others wounded,"

Pakistan denied the target was medical, while the Taliban described the facility as civilian and addiction-focused.

"Pakistan has denied targeting a hospital."

"The facility in the Afghan capital is dedicated to treating drug addiction,"

Islamabad’s justification, as aired by NHK, was that the strikes were against Taliban military sites allegedly linked to attacks on Pakistanis.

"claimed the facilities housed technical equipment and ammunition being used against Pakistani civilians."

Venezuela power-jolt claim: Delcy Rodríguez removes defense minister after reported Maduro capture, as U.S. eases PDVSA sanctions ()

In a Brazilian radio report, Venezuela’s internal command structure was described as shifting suddenly—explicitly tied to an extraordinary claim of U.S. action against Nicolás Maduro.

"A presidente interina da Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, demitiu o ministro da Defesa, Vladimir Padrino López, que ocupava o cargo há mais de uma década e era um dos principais aliados de Nicolás Maduro." "“Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, fired Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who had held the post for more than a decade and was one of Nicolás Maduro’s main allies.”"

"O chefe da contra-inteligência, Gustavo González López, foi nomeado no lugar." "“The head of counterintelligence, Gustavo González López, was appointed in his place.”"

The same broadcast framed the trigger as regime rupture: “a queda de Maduro, capturado numa operação dos Estados Unidos.”

"A mudança ocorre após a queda de Maduro, capturado numa operação dos Estados Unidos." "“The change comes after Maduro’s fall, captured in a U.S. operation.”"

Separately, the station reported a U.S. policy move aimed at oil supply during the wider energy shock: sanctions relief for Venezuela’s state oil company.

"o Departamento do Tesouro americano flexibilizou as sanções contra a Venezuela. A partir de agora, empresas dos Estados Unidos poderão fazer negócios com a PDVSA, que é a estatal petrolífera venezuelana." "“The U.S. Treasury Department loosened sanctions on Venezuela. From now on, U.S. companies will be able to do business with PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil company.”"

"Essa licença oferece um alívio das sanções; não elimina totalmente as penalidades." "“This license provides sanctions relief; it does not fully remove the penalties.”"

Brazil targets addictive design: Lula decrees ban “infinite scroll,” mandate robust age checks, and threaten platform shutdowns ()

Brazil’s government issued sweeping platform rules focused on children and teenagers, combining product-design restrictions with enforcement powers.

"o presidente Lula assinou hoje três decretos pra regulamentar o Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente," "“President Lula signed three decrees today to regulate the Child and Adolescent Statute,”"

The decrees explicitly target engagement mechanics often described as “dark patterns,” including endless feeds and autoplay.

"proibição— de práticas manipulativas, como rolagem infinita de feed, reprodução automática de vídeos..." "“A ban on manipulative practices, such as infinite feed scrolling, automatic video playback…”"

They also raise the compliance bar for access controls, rejecting self-declared ages as sufficient.

"exige verificação de idade com métodos confiáveis, impedindo o acesso de menores… por meio de autodeclaração falsa," "“It requires age verification with reliable methods, preventing minors’ access… through false self-declaration,”"

And they attach a blunt enforcement lever: the possibility of taking services offline for noncompliance.

"poderão ser retiradas do ar se não cumprirem as regras." "“[They] may be taken off the air (taken offline) if they do not comply with the rules.”"

The package also restricts monetization and content handling for minors.

"proíbem publicidade personalizada para menores" "“They prohibit personalized advertising for minors.”"

Colombia warns of coordinated cyber operation targeting state systems ahead of May 31 presidential election ()

Caracol Radio reported a warning from Colombian intelligence services that frames cyber intrusion as an immediate election-security risk.

"La Dirección Nacional de Inteligencia alertó por una operación coordinada para extraer datos en los sistemas estatales de cara a las elecciones presidenciales." "“The National Intelligence Directorate warned of a coordinated operation to extract data from state systems ahead of the presidential elections.”"

The alert was tied to a recent breach involving the tax and customs agency’s appointment site, and to other recent intrusions.

"la vulneración del sitio de citas de la Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales (DIAN)… el pasado 6 de marzo…" "“the breach of the appointment site of the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN)… on March 6…”"

The focus, Caracol said, is election administration and the integrity of official reporting streams in the run-up to the vote.

"La preocupación es por los datos… y los reportes de información para las elecciones presidenciales del próximo 31 de mayo." "“The concern is about the data… and information reporting for the upcoming May 31 presidential elections.”"