As questions grow over who funded the York sisters’ lavish lifestyles, how a Libyan gun smuggler was invited to Eugenie’s wedding, while bride Beatrice received ‘£750,000 as a gift’ from Turkish millionairess Royal Weddings and Financial Speculation A recent publication has unveiled intriguing details about the financial arrangements surrounding Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice’s extravagant weddings, reigniting debates about the Duke of York’s personal finances. The book Entitled by historian Andrew Lownie highlights connections between the royal family and several high-profile figures, raising eyebrows about the sources of their daughters’ opulent spending habits. Unveiling the Guest List Among the attendees at Eugenie’s 2018 nuptials was Tarek Kaituni, a former Libyan weapons trafficker known for gifting her a £18,000 diamond necklace on her 21st birthday. Meanwhile, Turkish billionaire Nebahat Isbilen was reportedly linked to a £750,000 transfer to the Duke’s private account, allegedly earmarked for Beatrice’s ceremony. These lavish contributions have fueled further scrutiny. “Sarah had been brought on to help with foreign expansion, but it appeared this led to Dr. Hon ‘bankrolling the royals,’ with him charging some £3million in expenses which included £8,000 for tea with the Duchess of York – and, as a Judge pointed out, ‘That is not the purpose for which these small Chinese investors paid their money in to the company.’” Dr. Johnny Hon, a Hong Kong-based tycoon, was familiar with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who had joined his venture capital firm Gate Ventures as a non-executive director the year before. However, tensions arose when Chinese investors contested the company’s practices, alleging misleading information about loans to Ginger & Moss, a firm founded by the Duchess. Of the £24million raised from shareholders, £19million was claimed to have been “lost.” Later reports revealed unusual financial dealings at Gate, including a loan to Manuel Fernandez’s company, vVoosh, and transactions with offshore entities. Hon defended these expenses, stating, “All activities charged to the company were ‘for the benefit of Gate and were legitimate business expenses.’” He also insisted, “No part of the spending was for my personal benefit or personal enjoyment. It was hard, often exhausting, but necessary work.” Isbilen’s legal battle against Turk, who was accused of misusing £40million, added another layer to the narrative. A £750,000 payment to the Duke’s account in 2019 was cited as one of her claims, with Turk asserting it was for helping her secure a Turkish passport. Andrew’s office, however, described the transaction as a gift for the wedding, leaving its ultimate use ambiguous. The timing of the payment, just nine days after Turk won an award at Pitch@Palace for his digital bank concept, prompted critics to call the event “appalling.” This sequence of events has deepened suspicions about the financial ties between the Duke and these influential figures, casting a spotlight on the mysterious funding of the royal sisters’ lives.

A free Iran is their shared dream. But the diaspora remains torn on the best path forward Los Angeles has become a microcosm of the Iranian diaspora’s internal conflict. Last Saturday, demonstrators gathered near City Hall, decrying the onset of an unsanctioned war with chants like “Stop the war in Iran” and “We the people don’t want war.” Just a few miles away, in Tehrangeles, the same community celebrated what they saw as a potential turning point for their homeland. With American, Israeli, and Iranian flags waving, they danced to upbeat music and rejoiced at the news of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in a U.S.-Israeli strike. The emotional split within the Iranian diaspora has deepened in recent days, highlighting a stark divide among those who fled theocratic rule after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. “Some are so resentful of the regime that they’d support its destruction even if it means harming parts of the country,” noted Abbas Milani, director of Iranian studies at Stanford University. Others, however, prioritize stability over conflict, advocating for regime change without sacrificing peace. “The images of destruction and the joyous support for war have intensified tensions within the diaspora,” Milani added. “It will get harder before it resolves.” Earlier this year, the Iranian diaspora seemed more unified, rallying behind Iranians protesting the government’s harsh crackdown. Now, with violence escalating across the Middle East, the focus has shifted to debating the methods of achieving change. Online forums have become battlegrounds, with supporters of military action branded as “Zionists” — a term increasingly used as a derogatory label since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023. Anti-war advocates, meanwhile, face accusations of aligning with the regime. Amid this turmoil, the question of Iran’s future leadership has sparked heated discussions. Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah, is a favored candidate for some, while others question his ties to the monarchy. The Revolutionary Guard, a central pillar of Iran’s political and military power, is also seen as a key player in shaping the country’s direction if it endures the current crisis. As the death toll mounts and the government imposes an internet blackout, the Iranian diaspora grapples with isolation and uncertainty. The Persian New Year, Nowruz, approaches, traditionally a time of renewal and celebration. Yet, rumors of Mojtaba Khamenei, Ayatollah Khamenei’s son, succeeding him add to the anxiety. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has suggested removing Iran’s leadership entirely, hinting at potential successors. Public opinion in the U.S. reflects this divide. A recent NBC News poll revealed 54% of potential voters disapprove of Trump’s military approach in Iran. This mirrors the internal split among Iranian Americans, who were previously united in opposing the government’s actions. Last year, a NIAC-YouGov survey found 53% of diaspora members opposed U.S. military intervention, a figure that may shift as the conflict evolves. The Iranian Diaspora Collective, an Instagram account with over 81,000 followers, emphasized this diversity: “We are not a monolith. Millions will never share the same ideology or identity, and that plurality is the strength of any free society.” Los Angeles-based pastor Ara Torosian, a Christian who emigrated from Iran in 2010, expressed anguish over the destruction of cultural sites and the loss of innocent lives, particularly children. Yet he argued that the suffering endured by dissidents under the regime is now being matched by the current conflict.

Pentagon prepares for Israeli-US war on Iran that could last ‘until September’ The Pentagon is accelerating intelligence efforts as Washington readies itself for an extended conflict against Iran, with military planning now extending into the autumn months. This move comes amid reports that the US Central Command has requested additional intelligence officers from the Pentagon to bolster operations at its headquarters in Tampa, Florida. A Politico report revealed that the reinforcements would support the campaign against Iran for at least 100 days, potentially stretching into September. The request marks the first known initiative under the Trump administration to increase intelligence personnel for the ongoing war, signaling a shift toward a more prolonged campaign than initially disclosed. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump suggested the military campaign might span four to five weeks, but he cautioned it could extend beyond that timeframe. The rapid deployment of personnel and resources highlights how unprepared Washington was for the scale of the conflict it initiated in conjunction with Israel, as reported by Politico. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the attacks have resulted in at least 700 deaths and numerous injuries, with over 165 children among the casualties from a double-tap strike on an elementary school. The US Central Command reported Monday that six military personnel were killed in Kuwait as a result of an Iranian strike. Prior reporting from Politico on February 25 revealed that senior Trump advisers advocated for Israel to launch the initial strike against Iran before the US followed suit, which ultimately happened, pulling Washington into the conflict. The war has now become a pivotal issue in Trump’s presidency, deepening rifts within his political base, where many supporters oppose further Middle Eastern engagements on Israel’s behalf. “We knew there would be an Israeli action. We knew it would lead to an attack on American forces, and we knew if we didn’t act before they launched their strikes, the casualties would be higher.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the necessity of US involvement, stating that Israel’s actions compelled Washington’s response. The conflict now threatens to dominate Trump’s administration, with Rubio’s remarks underscoring the refusal to restrain Israel despite its role in escalating the regional war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the second Israeli-US war with Iran in less than a year, declaring, “The attacks on Iran are being executed with the assistance of the United States, my friend, US President Donald Trump, and the US military.” He also framed the conflict as the realization of a decades-long strategic goal, stating, “This coalition of forces allows us to do what I have yearned to do for 40 years. … This is what I promised—and this is what we shall do.”

They survived the bombs, but not the virus: Fatal illness spreads in Gaza Mariam Kalloub’s death came as a shock to her mother, Marwa, who had no way of foreseeing that her child’s illness would prove fatal. Despite her belief in Mariam’s strong immune system and the simple treatment she would receive, the child succumbed to a virus that struck with deadly force. Marwa Kalloub, 38, said she never thought a common illness could end her daughter’s life. “Mariam had no prior health issues,” her aunt Iman Kalloub recalled to Middle East Eye. “Before she passed, she experienced intense coughing, vomiting and a high fever. She stopped eating entirely.” “We anticipated her recovery would take time, but we never imagined it would end like this,” Kalloub added. Recent weeks have seen a fast-spreading virus claim lives in Gaza, a region already battered by prolonged conflict. The health system, crippled by years of violence and resource shortages, has struggled to cope with the surge in cases. Doctors remain uncertain about the virus’s identity, citing inadequate testing and a lack of critical medical supplies. Mariam, eight years old, was admitted to Rantisi Hospital on 11 January. Once a key facility for treating childhood ailments like kidney disease and cancer, it now focuses on respiratory and digestive infections due to repeated damage from Israeli attacks. “Two years of war didn’t kill her. A small virus did,” Kalloub said, reflecting on the tragedy. The family had celebrated the October ceasefire with cautious optimism, using it to rebuild and send Mariam back to school. Yet the virus, which had been lurking in the shadows, proved unstoppable. Health officials have noted a 200% increase in emergency cases, with respiratory infections, fever, weight loss and joint pain being common symptoms. Severe pneumonia has led to thousands needing hospital care, including intensive treatment. Mortality has also risen, highlighting the crisis. “Gaza faces an unprecedented health emergency due to the Israeli blockade,” said Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Medical Complex. “Nearly every household has someone infected. It could be flu, a new strain, or even coronavirus.” A November 2025 report by the Health Cluster, led by the World Health Organization, revealed that most medical facilities cannot offer full services. It found 55% of essential drugs were unavailable, while 71% of basic supplies were out of stock. “Diagnosis and treatment are extremely difficult without proper equipment,” Abu Salmiya noted. Bed occupancy in hospitals has reached 150-200% due to the influx of patients. Overcrowded camps, leaking tents, and contaminated water have worsened the spread of infection. Vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions face the highest risk. “Famine and malnutrition have severely weakened immune systems,” Abu Salmiya explained. “This has caused complications, even among patients undergoing dialysis, cancer treatment, or heart care.” Despite the October ceasefire, UN agencies reported last month that 77% of Gaza’s population still suffers from acute food insecurity. This has left many susceptible to disease, as the virus exploits the region’s fragile state. The collapse of immunity, combined with limited healthcare access, has turned a simple illness into a life-threatening crisis.