Hoda Niku, an Iranian-born model and influencer based in South Korea, has strongly criticized her homeland’s regime as tyrannical and violent in the wake of recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, questioning the government’s nuclear intentions and highlighting its history of repression against its own people.
Hoda Niku
Niku, who placed third in the 2018 Miss Iran pageant and has built a significant following in Korea as a model, TV personality, Pilates instructor and social media creator with over 530,000 Instagram followers (@hoda_niku), posted her remarks on Instagram on March 3, 2026. Her comments came days after the joint U.S.-Israeli operation “Epic Fury” targeted Iranian military sites, government facilities and leadership, reportedly killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and causing hundreds of casualties.
In her statement, Niku addressed questions from followers about Iranian reactions to the attacks. “People ask me why the Iranian people seem happy about the war and the bombing of our own country,” she wrote, according to translations from Korean media outlets including Chosun Biz and Maeil Business Newspaper. She countered that many Iranians view the regime — not the nation itself — as the true adversary.
Niku pointed to the government’s brutal crackdowns, referencing reports of around 40,000 deaths in recent protests and suppressions. “If a regime has killed 40,000 of its own people, how can we believe it would use nuclear weapons peacefully?” she asked rhetorically, challenging claims that Iran’s nuclear program serves defensive or civilian purposes. She described the regime’s actions as tyrannical, emphasizing its oppression of citizens seeking freedom and democracy.
The post aligns with Niku’s longstanding activism. In January 2026, she posted a viral video titled “For Iran’s Freedom,” speaking in Korean to urge South Koreans and the international community to support anti-government protests in Iran amid deadly crackdowns and internet blackouts. She condemned what she called a “massacre” of demonstrators and appealed for global attention, saying even symbolic support strengthens those fighting for change.
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Her latest criticism reflects a broader sentiment among some in the Iranian diaspora. Reports from NPR and other outlets indicate mixed reactions among Iranians abroad and inside the country, with some anti-regime voices expressing relief or cautious hope that strikes could weaken the government, despite civilian suffering. In Los Angeles, home to a large Iranian community, some celebrated the attacks as long-overdue retaliation for decades of repression, while others expressed sorrow over civilian deaths, including reports of a girls’ school hit during the strikes.
The U.S.-Israeli campaign, launched late February 2026 after stalled nuclear talks, has escalated into ongoing exchanges. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on U.S. interests and allies across the Middle East, including attacks on facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel. Oil prices surged, airspace closed and global markets reacted with volatility.
In South Korea, where Niku has lived and worked since studying there, her voice carries particular resonance. She has appeared on programs like KBS’s “My Neighbor, Charles” and built a career in modeling, acting and wellness content. Her bilingual posts — often in Korean and Persian — bridge her two homes, allowing her to reach diverse audiences.
Korean media amplified her March 3 statement. Chosun Biz headlined its coverage “Miss Iran model in South Korea questions Iran regime’s nuclear intent,” noting her query about peaceful nuclear use given the regime’s domestic violence record. Asia Economic and Maeil Kyungje reported her direct criticism of the regime’s oppressive nature, with one outlet quoting her reflection: “Why would we be happy about our own country being bombed?” — underscoring that joy, if present, targets the government, not fellow citizens.
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Niku’s activism fits a pattern among Iranian expatriates opposing the Islamic Republic. She has consistently condemned crackdowns, including those following mass protests, and advocated for freedom and democracy. Her platform in Korea — a country with its own history of authoritarian rule transitioning to democracy — adds symbolic weight to her calls.
The Iranian Embassy in Seoul condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes as “war crimes” and “blatant aggression” on March 3, urging international accountability. North Korea also denounced the attacks as violations of sovereignty, aligning with anti-U.S. rhetoric from allied states.
As the conflict continues into its second week, with Trump administration officials signaling prolonged operations to neutralize threats, voices like Niku’s highlight internal Iranian divisions. While regime supporters decry foreign intervention, dissidents and exiles argue it exposes the government’s vulnerabilities.
Niku has not indicated plans for further public actions but continues posting wellness and lifestyle content alongside occasional advocacy. Her March 3 message, shared amid escalating regional violence, underscores ongoing debates over Iran’s future and the role of external pressure in regime change discussions.
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For many Iranians abroad, including those in Seoul’s growing expatriate community, her words serve as a reminder that opposition to the regime persists — even as bombs fall and the world watches.
American consumers are focused on prices at the pump following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, and it’s looking like truckers might be in for the biggest shock.
Diesel futures rose 12% in New York, ending Monday at $2.9004 a gallon in the biggest daily gain since early 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. Gasoline futures, meanwhile, added 3.7% to settle at $2.3706 a gallon, the highest price since August 2024.
Relatively low fuel prices have been a bright spot in the Trump administration’s efforts to rein in the cost of living ahead of November’s midterm elections. While more expensive gasoline will surely frustrate U.S. drivers, higher diesel prices have the potential to raise shipping costs and those of goods broadly.
So far, this bond fund hasn’t suffered a bigger blow this year.
Popularly known as TLT, the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF, a long-duration bond fund, is down 1.4% today.
This would be its worst single day percentage decline in 2026. The last time it fell by more than today was on Dec. 1, 2025, when it fell 1.6%, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
The Pentagon listed Alibaba, BYD, Baidu, and TP-Link Technologies Co. as companies providing support to the Chinese military. This designation highlights concerns over these firms’ alleged involvement or assistance in military activities, emphasizing increasing scrutiny of Chinese technology companies amid geopolitical tensions.
Recent reports have highlighted the involvement of several Chinese tech giants, including Alibaba and Baidu, in activities that may support China’s military ambitions. These firms are said to provide cloud computing services, data analytics, and artificial intelligence technologies that could be utilized for military purposes. U.S. officials have expressed concerns that such collaborations could enhance China’s military capabilities and undermine international security.
The scrutiny arises amid rising tensions between the United States and China, with the U.S. government actively monitoring Chinese companies that operate in sensitive sectors. Alibaba and Baidu, two of China’s leading technology firms, are accused of offering services that might facilitate military logistics, intelligence, and surveillance systems. These allegations come despite the firms’ public commitments to adhere to regulations and international standards.
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In response, U.S. policymakers are considering restrictions aimed at limiting the technological support provided to Chinese military endeavors. Experts emphasize the importance of transparency and regulation in preventing dual-use technologies from aiding military development. The situation underscores ongoing concerns about the intersection of technology, security, and international diplomacy, as both nations navigate a complex landscape of competition and cooperation.
The first plane carrying Australians who have been stranded in the Middle East is on its way to Australia.
The news comes as thousands of Australians remain stranded in the region amid the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
First Plane Carrying Stranded Australians on Its Way to Australia
According to Sky News, Flight EK414 departed shortly after 9 a.m. AEDT. It is the first commercial flight that has been able to bring Aussies back to Australia since the conflict began.
It is expected to arrive in Sydney later tonight.
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The report notes that there are 24,000 Australians who have been stranded in the United Arab Emirates.115,000 have been stranded in the Middle East region.
The Australian government has received heavy criticism regarding its handling of stranded Australians as the conflict in the region rages on.
“Unfortunately, I continue to get reports from them about the government just being flat-footed,” Shadow foreign minister Ted O’Brien said to Sky News.
He added, “They are struggling to get the right responses from the government, which is indicative of the government’s overly quiet and slow response in the lead-up to the conflict.”
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Australians Narrate Their Experience Escaping the Middle East
Some Australians who have managed to escape to safer ground have shared their experiences with ABC News.
An expat living in Dubai named Richard recounted how he had to book a limousine to guarantee a safe passage to Oman. However, it was denied entry at the border.
He and his partner had to board an overcrowded bus full of scared passengers just to get to Oman. When they got there, taxi rides were being quoted for as high as $8,000.
Another family shared their experience of having to pay thousands in dollars for alternative flights that were ultimately cancelled.
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“The airlines were hiking prices, knowing they could double their profit from people desperate and in need,” Simon Cass told ABC News.
Thousands of Facebook users experienced unexpected service downtime on the afternoon of March 3, causing frustration and confusion across the platform.
Downdetector data showed reports of issues surged rapidly, peaking at over 10,000 complaints as users struggled to access their accounts.
Users Encounter Error Messages
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During the outage, many users saw the message: “Your account is currently unavailable due to a site issue. We expect this to be resolved shortly. Please try again in a few minutes.”
While the alert indicated a temporary technical problem rather than account-specific issues, it offered little reassurance to those locked out, according to USA Today.
What Facebook Users Said About the Recent Outage
On Reddit, some users said that Facebook was undergoing extreme slowness when they loaded the page. Others thought that they were banned on the platform.
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“I’m getting that same error, but my wife isn’t. It seems to only be impacting certain users. The site is very slow for her, but it does still work,” one user wrote.
“Can confirm, I am also facing this issue. Seems to be a PC only problem for me though, as I can use Facebook app on phone and using my phone’s browser just fine. Doesn’t seem to be an account problem on my end,” another concerned user said.
Downdetector Shows Rapid Spike and Recovery
Real-time tracking from Downdetector highlighted the disruption’s scale, with complaints climbing sharply before gradually declining later in the evening. By 8:30 p.m. ET, reports had dropped to roughly 150, signaling that most issues were resolved.
The quick drop in complaints suggests a backend fix implemented by Facebook’s technical team, although the company has not publicly explained the cause.
Outages of this magnitude are often caused by server misconfigurations, software deployment errors, or infrastructure-related issues.
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Service Restored, But Reliance Remains
While Facebook’s services have largely returned to normal, the temporary blackout shows the platform’s importance for communication, business operations, and community engagement. Even brief outages can disrupt advertising campaigns, social interactions, and online workflows.
Meanwhile, TikTok faced an unexpected outage due to another Oracle outage. According to Tech Times, some content creators said that there were lags when they tried to post videos on their accounts.
Andrew Wright has taken up the role from Dave Tansley
Dave Tansley and Andrew Wright of Deloitte.(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
Professional advisory firm Deloitte has appointed Andrew Wright as its new practice senior partner for the South West and Wales. Mr Wright, who has close to 30 years of experience at the firm, will lead a combined team of 2,300 people, succeeding Dave Tansley.
He joined the firm 1996 and became a partner in 2012. He leads Deloitte’s audit business in Bristol and Cardiff and is also part of the national Deloitte Private leadership team and the global audit transformation group. In his new role Mr Wright will oversee the firm’s strategic direction across the South West and Wales.
He takes over the role from Dave Tansley, who has led the firm in the South West and Wales for the past two years. Mr Tansley will continue his work as partner at Deloitte leading key initiatives until his retirement in May.
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During his two year stint as practice senior partner, Mr Tansley spearheaded the firm’s move into its new Bristol headquarters in the Halo Building in Finzel’s Reach, which has consolidated its position as a leading employer in the region. He also accelerated the growth of the firm in Wales, including its Cardiff Delivery Centre.
Mr Wright said: “The South West and Wales stands on the cusp of a vibrant future, powered by innovation in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and a thriving digital economy, offer unparalleled opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
“My career has been rooted in the south West and Wales, and I know first-hand the depth of talent, expertise and potential that we have here. I am committed to developing that talent, and ensuring that we continue to make a tangible impact to our clients, people and communities.
“I want to thank Dave for his exemplary leadership. He has fostered a real sense of collaboration across the firm, leaving a strong foundation for future growth.”
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Mr Tansley, partner, Deloitte, said: “This role has provided an exciting last chapter as I close out my 32-year career with the firm. It has been immensely rewarding to support the growth of our people and witness the enthusiasm and expertise that they bring to sector-leading projects across the region.”
Ian Howse, senior partner, Wales, and Sam Hart, office senior partner for Bristol, will continue to lead their respective offices.
X has revealed that it will suspend creators who fail to properly label AI-generated content on videos posted on the platform, particularly if they depict “armed conflict” or war-related content.
The policy change aims to properly label content generated by artificial intelligence and avoid spreading misinformation on the platform.
X to Suspend Creators Failing to Add AI Labels to Videos
X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, has shared a new post that reveals the latest policy change on the platform’s content moderation, which says that all creators who fail to label AI videos will be suspended.
According to Bier, the suspension applies to AI-generated videos depicting armed conflict or war-related content on the platform. The X executive said that the platform wants to “maintain the authenticity of content on Timeline,” especially amidst global conflict.
“During times of war, it is critical that people have access to authentic information on the ground. With today’s AI technologies, it is trivial to create content that can mislead people,” said Bier.
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Creators who post AI-generated videos without the proper labeling will face a 90-day suspension on their first offense, and subsequent violations will bring heftier fines, as well as possible removal from the program.
Today we are revising our Creator Revenue Sharing policies to maintain authenticity of content on Timeline and prevent manipulation of the program.
During times of war, it is critical that people have access to authentic information on the ground. With today’s AI technologies,…
Only Applies to Creators Under the Revenue Program
Bier explained that this only applies to creators who are under the “Creator Revenue Sharing” program, and these are creators who are monetized from posting content on X.
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The executive revealed that the AI-generated content could be flagged by the likes of posts receiving a Community Note, which clarifies that it contains AI-made aspects. Bier also revealed that they will actively monitor posts and aim to detect metadata from generative AI tools.
It is known that X recently faced massive complaints over Grok AI’s deepfake scandal earlier this year as it allowed users to generate AI photos without limitations. This led to a fiasco where explicit content spread throughout the platform and sexualized many users.
