UNDP warns war could wipe up to $194bn from regional economy The UN Development Programme has warned of severe economic fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran. In a new report, it said a localised conflict risks becoming a “systemic regional shock”. Regional GDP could shrink by between 3.
Iranian missiles don't pose a threat to the US, Pete Hegseth admits Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:59 Despite Iran steering the terms with its economic leverage, the Pentagon chief insists otherwise US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hold a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on 31 March 2026 (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Off In his first briefing since 19 March, and more than one month into the US- Israeli war on Iran , US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth openly conceded that Iranian ballistic missiles do not pose a threat to the US mainland, undercutting talk of the "imminent threat" repeated by the White House. Because of that, he explained, the US has put itself on the line to protect its regional assets and allies against Tehran's capabilities, and that is why the president now expects European allies to step up in return. "These are missiles that don't even range the United States of America.
Hezbollah claims multiple attacks on Israeli forces along border Hezbollah said its fighters carried out several attacks on Israeli troops and positions along the border on Thursday. In a series of statements, the group said it shelled Israeli soldiers and vehicles near the town of Ainata at around 11:00 local time (08:00 GMT), followed by a rocket barrage on the same area later in the day. It also said rockets were fired at Israeli forces in Avivim in northern Israel.
Israeli strike in southern Gaza kills 5-year-old An Israeli air strike in southern Gaza killed a father and his five-year-old son, according to health officials at Nasser hospital, where the bodies were taken. Family members and mourners gathered in the hospital courtyard for funeral prayers, carrying the bodies wrapped in white shrouds.
Ethiopia rations fuel as shortages hit supplies Ethiopia has begun rationing fuel as shortages affect supplies amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. Authorities said priority will be given to public transport and vehicles carrying essential goods, after daily diesel supply fell from 9. 2 million litres to 4.
China and Pakistan issue five-point plan for 'immediate ceasefire' in war on Iran Submitted by Sean Mathews on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:09 Proposal calls for 'normal passage' in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that appears to reject Iran's toll system This handout photograph, taken on 31 March 2026, shows Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, greeting his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, in Beijing (Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AFP) Off China and Pakistan have proposed a five-point plan to end the US-Israeli war on Iran that calls for an immediate ceasefire and restoration of “normal passage” for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal was released on Tuesday after Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing. The two top diplomats agreed to "strengthen strategic communication and coordination on the Iran situation and ...
Trump says France blocked US military flights bound for Israel US President Donald Trump said France refused to allow US military supply flights heading to Israel to pass through its airspace. In a social media post, Trump described France as “very unhelpful” in relation to what he called the elimination of a senior Iranian figure. Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported the refusal took place over the weekend and marked the first time France had taken such a step since the US-Israeli war on Iran began.
Leaked UN report reveals Haftar family is smuggling oil and arms in Libya Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:56 Panel of experts' report seen by MEE says Arkenu, Libya's first privately owned oil company, is 'indirectly controlled' by Saddam Haftar Khalifa Haftar with two of his sons, including Saddam, in a picture published on the Libyan National Army's Facebook page (Facebook) Off A leaked UN panel of experts' report obtained by Middle East Eye has revealed details of the Haftar family’s connections to oil, fuel and arms smuggling networks in eastern Libya . The 288-page report, scheduled to be released on 9 April, links eastern commander Khalifa Haftar and his son Saddam’s Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) to illicit oil smuggling, capital flight, the management of financial and criminal networks, and the provision of arms to Sudan ’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As previously reported by Middle East Eye and noted by the UN report, Subul al-Salam, a Libyan militia affiliated with Haftar’s forces, has facilitated the supply of weapons and other goods to the RSF, the paramilitary force that is backed by the United Arab Emirates and has been widely accused of genocide in Darfur.
Kuwait says missiles and drones intercepted over past 24 hours Kuwait’s defence ministry said its forces intercepted and destroyed five ballistic missiles and seven drones that entered the country’s airspace over the past 24 hours.
FIFA confirms Iran will play at World Cup FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Iran “will be at the World Cup”, despite questions over whether the team would travel to the United States, where most of their group matches are due to be held. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said it would not be “appropriate” for Iran to participate, citing safety concerns.
UN diplomat resigns over claims of planned nuclear strike on Iran Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:45 Mohamad Safa, a UN representative for the Patriotic Vision Association NGO, also claimed that senior figures at the UN were 'serving a powerful lobby' Mohamad Safa, a UN representative for the Patriotic Vision Association, at UN offices in Geneva (Wikimedia Commons) Off A diplomat at the United Nations resigned from his post on Friday and accused the international body of preparing for a scenario involving the possible use of nuclear weapons on Iran . Mohamad Safa, a UN representative for the Patriotic Vision Association (PVA), a non-governmental organisation that holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc), said that he resigned from his role in order to "leak the information", before claiming that some senior figures at the UN had been "serving a powerful lobby" and not the UN itself. "This is a picture of Tehran.
Eight children evacuated during Israeli siege on al-Shifa return to Gaza Submitted by Mera Aladam on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 12:29 The toddlers reunite with family, some of whom had not seen them since their birth more than two years earlier A newborn infant inside an incubator at a neonatal intensive care unit at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, 29 September 2022 (AFP/Mohammed Abed) Off A group of Palestinian children from Gaza , evacuated abroad as premature infants for treatment, have returned to the enclave more than two years after Israel ’s siege of al-Shifa hospital where they were born. The eight toddlers arrived on Monday via the Rafah crossing, with teams from the Palestine Red Crescent Society taking part in the humanitarian mission, accompanied by the nursing teams who cared for them throughout their treatment journey. The children were among over a dozen babies who were placed in incubators at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, and later evacuated to Egypt as Israeli troops stormed the complex in November 2023.
IRGC threatens to target US tech firms in region Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned it could target US technology companies operating in the region, urging staff and nearby residents to evacuate. In a statement carried by Tasnim, the IRGC said firms involved in “designing and tracking” targets using ICT and AI would be considered “legitimate targets”. It said more than 15 companies could be targeted from 20:00 local time tomorrow if further Iranian leaders are killed in what it described as “targeted assassinations”.
Lib Dem mayor forced to resign for sharing Israeli 'false flag' ambulance attack posts Submitted by Imran Mulla on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 14:57 Bharat Pankhania, until Tuesday the mayor of Bath, has also resigned as a Lib Dem councillor Bharat Pankhania was appointed mayor of Bath on 7 June 2025 at Bath Abbey (Screengrab/X) Off The mayor of the British city of Bath has been forced to resign for sharing social media posts suggesting that the arson attack last week on Jewish charity-owned ambulances in London was a false flag. Bharat Pankhania, a member of the Liberal Democrat party, has also resigned as a Lib Dem councillor. He shared posts on his personal X account last week, describing the attack as an Israeli false flag operation, as well as posts saying it was an insurance fraud.
Jerusalem's Christians urge church leaders to challenge harsh Israeli restrictions Submitted by Peter Oborne on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 14:23 Palestinians say Israel is using war as an excuse to assert control over Old City's holy sites after Catholic Patriarch was denied entry to Church of the Holy Sepulchre Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, leads a Palm Sunday service at the Church of All Nations on 29 March 2026 (AFP) Off Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, has been the subject of a wave of global sympathy after Israeli forces stopped him on the way to pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday. But on our visit to the ancient church in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City the next day, we discovered that some, at least, of the cardinal’s flock feel rather less warmly towards the patriarch. For weeks since Israel joined the US in attacking Iran , the Old City has been mostly closed off to visitors, with Israeli security forces stationed at the gates and restricting access to the holy sites.
Israeli military says it conducted over 230 strikes on Iran in last 24 hours Israel's army has said it has conducted over 230 strikes across Iran in the last 24 hours. It said the attacks are aimed at degarding Iranian military capacity, but Iran has reported multiple US-Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure.
UN says initial probe findings show Lebanon peacekeepers killed by blast The UN has said that the initial findings of an investigation into the deaths of two Indonesian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on 30 March point to a roadside explosion striking their convoy. On Sunday, an Indonesian soldier was killed in a separate incident. United Nations peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the investigation into the deaths is ongoing, warning that peacekeepers should never be a target.
China and Pakistan call for 'immediate cessation of hostilities' China and Pakistan's foreign ministers have called for an immediate ceasefire to end hostilities amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, urging peace talks as soon as possible, Pakistan's foreign ministry and Chinese state news agency Xinhua is reporting. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, issued a five-point plan for "restoring peace and stability" in the region, following talks in Beijing. The steps include an immediate end to attacks on civilians and non-military targets, the securing of the Strait of Hormuz's shipping lanes and the establishing of a comprehensive peace framework.
Israel to halt security procurement from 'hostile' France Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/31/2026 - 10:24 Tensions have grown between Israel and France since Paris became critical of Israel's conduct in Lebanon Peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) drive past a Lebanese army outpost in Naqura, southern Lebanon, on 27 March 2026 (Kawnat Haju/AFP) Off Israel has announced that it will be ending security procurement from France after what it claimed was the country's "hostile" attitude in recent months, Israeli media reported. An Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post the decision to stop the purchases was made under the directive of Defense Minister Israel Katz and Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram. According to the Jerusalem Post, it was taken as a result of France adopting what the news outlet called a "hostile" attitude towards Israel, forcing it to "re-evaluate how much it could trust sharing its defence products with the country".
US-Israeli strikes on Iran's oil and gas could poison people and environment for decades Submitted by Katherine Hearst on Fri, 03/27/2026 - 14:15 Experts say pollution from escalating attacks on industrial and energy infrastructure poses deadly long-term implications for civilian health Members of Iran's Red Crescent society stand near smoke plumes from an ongoing fire following an overnight airstrike on the Shahran oil refinery in northwestern Tehran on 8 March 2026 (AFP) Off On the night of 7 March, air strikes hit four oil depots and refineries in and around Tehran. The resulting petrochemical fires burned for days, spewing columns of thick smoke which shrouded the skies of Iran 's capital and poisoned its air. Residents described the fires as “hellscapes” and a “black monster”.
