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Iran’s only operational nuclear power station, the Bushehr plant, has endured a series of assaults amid the escalating Israel‑United States campaign against Tehran, sparking alarm over a possible regional nuclear incident.The most recent strike on Saturday resulted in the death of a security guard and damage to an auxiliary building, according to the state‑run Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI).Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that the facility has been "bombed" four times since the conflict erupted on 28 February, accusing the United States and Israel of a "lack of concern" for nuclear safety.Security analysts stress that any bombing of the reactor or its spent‑fuel pools would unleash the radioactive isotope Caesium‑137, a contaminant capable of traveling far via wind and water, rendering soil, food and drinking supplies hazardous for decades and increasing cancer risks for exposed populations.The Bushehr complex, built by Russia and completed in 2011, supplies roughly 1,000 MW to Iran’s grid. It is the Middle East’s first nuclear plant and is slated to host two additional reactors by 2029, with hundreds of Russian technicians on site.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly warned that a direct hit could trigger a “regional catastrophe.” Director‑General Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council that striking the plant could cause a "very high release of radioactivity" and, if power to the cooling system were cut, could lead to a reactor melt. He called for "maximum restraint," noting that evacuation zones could extend several hundred kilometres, requiring iodine prophylaxis and food‑supply restrictions.Beyond terrestrial fallout, experts highlight the danger of contaminating the Gulf’s shallow waters. Radioactive pollution would devastate marine ecosystems and cripple desalination plants, which lack the technology to filter such material. Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, warned that a simulated Bushehr attack would render the sea "entirely contaminated" and leave the country without water within three days.International law explicitly forbids targeting civilian nuclear installations. Article 56 of Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions bars attacks on "works and installations containing dangerous forces," and the IAEA’s own guidelines prohibit indiscriminate strikes on reactors, fuel storage, or power supplies.Araghchi also criticized the muted Western response, contrasting it with the outcry over Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia plant, which prompted emergency UN sessions, NATO warnings, and statements from the EU, UK and US. In the Bushehr case, the EU has remained silent, while Russia, which maintains a sizable staff at the site, issued a condemnation of the attacks.Historical precedents such as the 2011 Fukushima disaster and the 1986 Chernobyl explosion illustrate the long‑term human and environmental toll of nuclear accidents, underscoring why the safety of Bushehr is viewed as a matter of regional, not merely national, security.

Occupied East Jerusalem – While Holy Week traditionally fills the Old City’s Christian Quarter with pilgrims and worshippers, the streets are now eerily quiet and storefronts remain shuttered.Palestinian shopkeeper Boulos, a man in his mid‑30s who asked to remain anonymous, still drags himself to his modest stall a few times a week, selling religious garments behind a half‑closed door to avoid Israeli orders that mandate closure of businesses in the quarter amid the ongoing US‑Israel conflict with Iran.After six years of pandemic‑related setbacks and successive wars, his business had only begun to recover when the October Gaza ceasefire was followed by a new wave of restrictions. “Before the war with Iran, we barely made enough to survive,” he said. “Now there is no income at all.”His only customer that day was an Ethiopian Christian woman buying a kilo of prayer candles for 35 shekels (about $11.20). “What can 35 shekels do for me?” Boulos lamented, underscoring the stark economic squeeze.Unlike many West Jerusalem shops, which have been allowed to stay open because of nearby bomb shelters, the Old City lacks such protection, leaving Palestinian businesses in the Christian Quarter effectively forced to shut. The area, heavily dependent on tourism, shows the least sign of life.Brother Daoud Kassabry, principal of the College des Frères school, described the scene as “the saddest Jerusalem I have ever seen.” Classes have been suspended for over a month, and the community feels the weight of an unprecedentedly difficult period.For the first time in centuries, Israeli police barred Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and other senior clergy from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday Mass. The Latin Patriarchate called the incident “unprecedented in centuries.”At a press conference, Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized that while “all celebrations” have been cancelled for security reasons, “no one, not even the Pope, can cancel the liturgy of Easter.”Following the incident, leaders from Italy, France and the United States condemned the police action. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later defended the measure as a safety precaution, citing the absence of bomb shelters near the holy site, despite the cardinal’s residence being only metres away.Netanyahu’s justification raises questions about the long‑standing “status‑quo” arrangement that places custodianship of Christian and Muslim holy sites under the heads of their respective religious institutions and Jordan’s Waqf. Palestinian Christians interpret the rhetoric as evidence of an increasingly hostile environment under Israeli control.Bishop Emeritus Munib Younan recounted being spat on by Jewish yeshiva students in the Old City without any legal consequences. He now prefers to attend services in Bethlehem or a small church outside Jerusalem, where he feels “no one is pointing a gun at you.”“They want to show the world that this country is only meant for them – not Christians, not Muslims,” Younan said, reflecting a sentiment shared by many locals.Netanyahu later announced that religious ceremonies at the Holy Sepulchre would be permitted during Holy Week, but only for clergy, keeping the general public out. Observers noted the inconsistency, pointing out that Muslim worshippers have been barred from the Al‑Aqsa compound since late February, including during Ramadan, with only minimal international rebuke.The cumulative restrictions have crippled the already dwindling Palestinian Christian community, which now makes up less than 2 % of the population in Israel and the occupied territories. Traditional events such as the Way of the Cross procession and Holy Fire Saturday have been cancelled, eroding communal cohesion.Father Faris Abedrabbo of the Annunciation Latin Parish linked the current hardships to the Passion narrative, urging congregants to view their suffering through the lens of “steadfastness” – an active, spiritual resistance rather than passive endurance.Economic despair is prompting a new wave of emigration. Bishop Younan reported that many young Christians ask for help obtaining visas to the United States, Canada or Australia, fearing there is “no future” in Jerusalem. Boulos, the shopkeeper, admits he has considered leaving, noting that “they try to make us lose hope and abandon this land.”Despite the bleak outlook, Boulos continues to visit his shop, saying, “I come here to prove to myself that I still have hope, even if it feels endless.”

Indonesia formally received the coffins of three United Nations peacekeepers who lost their lives in southern Lebanon as Israel intensified its invasion, a development that underscores the expanding regional fallout of the US‑Israel war on Iran. On Saturday, uniformed officers carried the bodies into a solemn ceremony attended by President Prabowo Subianto. Following the tribute, Foreign Minister Sugiono urged a comprehensive UN inquiry into the fatalities, stressing that "incidents like this should not happen" and calling for a security guarantee for peacekeeping troops. The three soldiers—Farizal Rhomadhon (28), Zulmi Aditya Iskandar (33) and Muhammad Nur Ichwan (26)—were members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Rhomadhon was killed when a projectile, later attributed by a UN source to fire from an Israeli tank, detonated near his position. A day later, Iskandar and Ichwan perished in an explosion that struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy. Family members expressed deep sorrow. Iskandar’s father, Iskandarudin (60), told reporters from West Java that the loss was especially painful because the troops were deployed for peace, not combat. The government announced that the trio will be interred on Sunday and pledged financial assistance to their families, reflecting Indonesia’s commitment to support the bereaved. In a related incident, UNIFIL reported that three additional peacekeepers were wounded in a blast at a facility near Adeisse; the cause of that explosion remains unidentified, though the injured were confirmed to be Indonesian. Indonesia’s foreign ministry has called on the UN Security Council to convene an urgent meeting of troop‑contributing nations to review and strengthen protection measures for UNIFIL personnel. The tragedy occurs against the backdrop of a broader conflict: the US‑Israel offensive against Iran has spilled into Lebanon after Hezbollah, aligned with Tehran, launched rockets following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February. Israeli forces have been bombarding Lebanon for weeks, aiming to establish a 30 km (≈18.6 mi) security zone along the border. Key takeaway: The loss of Indonesian peacekeepers highlights the heightened risks faced by UN missions in volatile theaters and intensifies calls for stronger international safeguards amid escalating Middle‑East hostilities.

The United States succeeded in extracting the remaining crew member of an F‑15E Strike Eagle that was downed over Iran, but the 48‑hour rescue exposed the high financial and operational risks of the conflict.While former President Donald Trump is likely to spin the operation as a propaganda win, analysts note that the incident – occurring just five weeks into the war – is a stark reminder that an undefeated Iran can still inflict costly setbacks on U.S. forces.The aircraft was the first U.S. warplane shot down by hostile forces since 2003, highlighting the rarity of such losses in a campaign where U.S. and Israeli jets are reportedly conducting 300‑500 airstrikes per day on Iranian targets.Financially, the episode was significant. An F‑15E costs roughly $31 million (potentially up to $100 million for a new model), while each modified C‑130 Hercules rescue transport carries a list price of about $115 million. Two of these were lost after becoming stuck on an abandoned airstrip south of Isfahan and were destroyed by U.S. forces to prevent capture. An HH‑60 Pave Hawk helicopter also sustained gunfire damage.Combined, the destroyed and damaged airframes push the total expense of the rescue operation beyond $250 million, a figure that dwarfs the strategic value of a single crew member.Before the conflict, the U.S. special‑force command fielded 218 F‑15E Strike Eagles and 55 C‑130s, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, underscoring that the loss of a few aircraft, while costly, does not fundamentally alter U.S. air superiority.Politically, the rescue was essential to avoid a Tehran propaganda coup reminiscent of the 1979‑80 U.S. embassy hostage crisis. Capturing an American airman would have provided Tehran with a powerful bargaining chip.Iranian forces failed to locate the crew or contest the U.S. use of the abandoned airfield, possibly due to the presence of Reaper drones tasked with neutralising any Iranian personnel within a three‑kilometre radius.The incident also raises doubts about the feasibility of a proposed U.S. ground operation to seize an estimated 440 kg of highly enriched uranium hidden in underground canisters near Isfahan. The loss of rescue assets illustrates the heightened risk of any such incursion.Despite more than 15,000 airstrikes against Iran to date, Tehran can still turn relatively minor U.S. or Israeli losses into a propaganda victory, proving that in an asymmetric conflict the weaker side needs only a single lucky strike to make a global impact.

The UK government's new employment rights watchdog, the Fair Work Agency (FWA), is set to launch on Tuesday, but its priorities have already faced criticism from worker advocates. The agency, a cornerstone of Labour's Employment Rights Act, will bring together several existing labour enforcement bodies and focus on policing the minimum wage, holiday pay, and modern slavery. However, the government's priorities for the FWA's first year have been criticized for focusing on reducing regulatory burdens on businesses, rather than taking a more robust approach to protecting workers' rights. The priorities, listed by Matthew Taylor, the incoming chair of the FWA, include 'thought leadership' and 'reducing regulatory burdens'. Worker advocates argue that this approach risks turning the agency into 'a dead duck' before it even begins. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, which represents over 1 million workers, said that the priorities showed the agency was 'in danger of being a dead duck before it even begins'. She added that the government needs to urgently ensure that the FWA focuses on bringing rogue bosses to heel, rather than seeking ways to allow dodgy companies to continue bad behaviour. The UK has among the fewest labour inspectors per worker within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, with different estimates putting the scale of unpaid wages in the billions of pounds. This means employers face 'no credible threat of inspection, investigation or enforcement', according to Prof David Whyte of Queen Mary University. A report to be published on Monday by the Institute of Employment Rights will recommend adequate funding, unannounced inspections, and prosecutions for wrongdoing. The government has yet to announce the budget it will allocate to the FWA. A government spokesperson said: 'The new Fair Work Agency will end the current fragmented system of enforcing employment rights, making it easier for workers and victims of exploitation to get the rights they're entitled to. The agency will take tough action against businesses that deliberately flout the law while supporting employers who want to do the right thing and strengthen workers' rights.'

Cambodia has taken a significant step in its fight against cybercrime by approving a new law targeting scam centers accused of defrauding foreigners of billions of dollars. The law, which aims to enhance the country's 'cleaning operation' against these illicit operations, imposes punishments of two to five years in prison and fines of up to $125,000 for those convicted of online scams.The legislation, which will now go to Cambodia's king for a final signature, also outlines penalties for money laundering, gathering victims' data, or recruiting scammers. Ringleaders of scam centers that engage in human trafficking, detentions, and torture will face prison sentences of up to 20 years and fines of up to $500,000.The passage of the law comes amid widespread condemnation from rights groups and sanctions by governments around the world, with Cambodia accused of being a hotbed of cyberscams. The US Department of State has previously stated that 'official complicity, including at senior levels, inhibited effective law enforcement action against trafficking crimes' in Cambodia, which has denied these allegations.The new law is seen as a significant effort by Cambodia to combat the rise of online fraud, romance, and cryptocurrency scams. Several countries have enacted anti-cyberscam laws to address this issue, with con artists in Singapore facing 24 strokes of the cane in serious cases.Justice Minister Keut Rith emphasized that the law is 'strict like the fishing net' and aims to ensure that online scams do not return to Cambodia. The law is expected to send a strong message to cyberscammers that Cambodia is not a place to conduct scams, and it will serve the interests of the Cambodian nation and people.

As opportunities for Western and Indigenous collaborations multiply, it's critical that Indigenous people maintain control over any knowledge gleaned and how it's used. Suzanne Greenlaw, an ecologist at the Schoodic Institute, emphasizes that 'Western science can help, as long as Native people are still decision makers.' The goal is to create a more inclusive and equitable approach to environmental conservation, one that values and respects Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.

American consumers are watching gasoline and airline fares climb, while economists warn that the war in Iran will keep pressure on prices across the U.S. economy.“The good old days are gone,” said Christopher Tang, a professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management who studies global supply chains. “We see gasoline prices rising now, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg; everything will become more expensive.”Since the conflict began in late February, crude oil has surged past $110 a barrel. The rally is tied to Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes.In a recent address, President Donald Trump claimed the United States is “totally independent of the Middle East” and has “plenty of gas.” However, Brookings Institute’s energy‑security director Samantha Gross reminded listeners that oil is a globally traded commodity and the U.S. still imports significant volumes, meaning American consumers will face the same high prices as the rest of the world.Iran has either halted shipments through the strait or imposed a toll of up to $2 million per vessel. Tankers are forced to take longer routes or pay the fee, inflating logistics costs for all downstream users.Major logistics players are already passing those costs on. Amazon announced a 3.5% surcharge for third‑party sellers, while UPS and FedEx have introduced fuel surcharges exceeding 25%. The United States Postal Service will add an 8% surcharge to transportation rates starting 27 April, noting the charge is “less than one‑third of what our competitors charge for fuel alone.”When the prices go up, they rarely come back down— Christopher Tang, UCLACountries have dipped into strategic oil reserves to blunt the shock, but economists such as Virginia Tech’s David Bieri warn that refilling those stockpiles will require buying oil at today’s elevated prices, keeping the upward pressure on the market.Higher oil costs ripple beyond fuel. Crude is a key feedstock for chemicals, pharmaceuticals and fertilizers, meaning the surge could translate into higher prices for prescription drugs and groceries.Cornell University’s agricultural economics professor Christopher Wolf explained that diesel, a major input for farm equipment and fertilizer production, is also climbing, raising the cost of both crop cultivation and livestock raising.Retailers and food processors are already adjusting. “If we anticipate higher costs, we start raising prices early to avoid a sudden shock later,” Wolf said, describing a “rational expectations” approach.The Independent Grocers Alliance warned that a 10‑15% rise in fuel costs could lift food prices by 2‑4% by mid‑summer, underscoring the broader impact on household budgets.Although President Trump expects the United States to exit the Iran conflict within two to three weeks, experts agree that even a swift resolution will not instantly reverse the price spikes.The strait’s strategic importance means the political risk premium on oil will linger. “You never know when this could flare up again,” said Northeastern University’s Ravi Ramamurti, adding that the effect is likely to be persistent.As Tang summed up, “When the prices go up, they rarely come back down.”

In Lebanon, the war with Israel has severely impacted the traditional funeral process. Normally, the deceased are given a final procession through their hometown before burial. However, due to Israel's expanding ground invasion in south Lebanon, families are being forced to abandon these customs.In Tyre, temporary graves have been established with brief epitaphs marking the deceased. The burials are conducted using a special Islamic rite called wadiaa, which allows for the casket, but not the body, to be exhumed later. This practice is usually reserved for exceptional circumstances like war.Rabih Koubaissi, who oversees burials in Tyre, noted that people have an emotional attachment to burying their loved ones in their ancestral land, reflecting their sense of belonging and heritage. The brutality of war has made it impossible to follow traditional washing and preparation of bodies, sometimes only collecting pieces of bodies for burial.Families face the heartbreaking reality of having to bury their loved ones twice. The Israeli military's plan to occupy areas south of the Litani River indefinitely raises fears that reburials may not be possible for months or even years. This situation has left the deceased with few visitors, as most families have been forced to leave Tyre due to increased attacks.Hecham Reda, a medic, expressed his fear of not being able to rebury his friend Hadi back home, reflecting the anxiety many people from south Lebanon are experiencing. Koubaissi finds it difficult to comfort grieving families, trying to convey sympathy without revealing the harsh realities of the situation.