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Iranian drone attacks on Sunday inflicted serious damage on two of Kuwait's power and water desalination plants and sparked a fire at the Shuwaikh Oil Sector Complex, though no injuries were reported.Fatima Abbas Johar Hayat, spokesperson for Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, described the incident as “criminal aggression” that caused “serious material damage” and forced the shutdown of two electricity‑generating units.Al Jazeera’s Malika Traina highlighted the strategic importance of the facilities, noting that around 90 % of Kuwait’s drinking water is produced by these desalination plants, making the disruption a critical blow to the nation’s water security.The strikes come as Gulf states bear the brunt of Tehran’s retaliation to recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have become the epicentre of these assaults, according to Al Jazeera’s Victoria Gatenby in Doha.Gatenby warned that if President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu follow through on threats to intensify pressure on Iran, Tehran may target similar civilian and energy infrastructure across the Gulf.Bahrain also suffered drone attacks, with its Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co reporting damage to several operational units and Bapco Energies confirming a hit on an oil storage tank. Both incidents caused fires that were quickly extinguished, and no casualties were reported.In Abu Dhabi, authorities responded to multiple fires at the Borouge petrochemical plant, attributing them to falling debris from an interception. Operations were suspended pending a damage assessment, but no injuries have been confirmed.Saudi Arabia announced the interception of missiles early Sunday, underscoring the heightened military alert across the region.Gatenby noted that while Iran claims it is only targeting US military assets, the pattern over the past five weeks shows a broader focus on civilian and critical energy infrastructure. Gulf nations have exercised “incredible restraint,” yet their leaders caution that patience is not unlimited and that Saudi Arabia is invoking its right to self‑defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.The escalating series of attacks highlights the fragile security environment in the Gulf and raises concerns about the resilience of essential services such as power and water supply amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Thousands of Muqtada al‑Sadr’s followers took to the streets of Baghdad and several other Iraqi cities on Saturday, staging one of the largest anti‑war rallies in recent memory. Demonstrators brandished Iraqi flags while chanting slogans such as “No, no to Israel” and “No, no to America,” signaling broad opposition to the escalating conflict. Iraq, already caught in a web of regional hostilities, has endured attacks aimed at both U.S. interests and pro‑Iranian groups within its borders. The protests underscore the country’s growing frustration at being drawn into a war it did not initiate. In the heart of Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, crowds—including women—filled the avenues, their voices amplified by a palpable sense of urgency. “What America and Israel are doing is not a conventional military operation but a senseless war,” declared Dhirgham Samir, a 40‑year‑old participant, speaking to AFP. Samir added that the demonstration represented a broader rejection of “aggression, arrogance and injustice” worldwide, emphasizing that civilians are the primary victims of this conflict. Since the war began, thousands of casualties have been reported across the region, a grim statistic that fuels public anger. Al‑Sadr himself called for peaceful rallies aimed at condemning what he described as “Zionist‑American aggression” and urging a return to regional stability. His appeal resonated with many, reflecting his deep-rooted influence among Iraq’s Shia majority. Protesters gathered beneath Baghdad’s Freedom Monument, a symbol of the nation’s independence, to denounce perceived foreign meddling. Muslim leader Ali al‑Fartousi told AFP, “Humanity must speak out against these forces; the world must unite against Zionist‑American arrogance.” Al‑Sadr commands a loyal base numbering in the millions and has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to mobilise large crowds. Though he has opposed various Iraqi governments over the years, his network extends into ministries and state institutions, amplifying the political weight of today’s demonstrations.

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.”

Russian attacks across Ukraine have resulted in at least 15 fatalities and numerous injuries over a 24-hour period, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks targeted various regions, including the city of Kharkiv and the southeastern city of Nikopol.In Kharkiv and surrounding areas, four people were killed and 11 injured in Russian attacks. Additionally, at least 11 people, including a child, were injured when a Russian drone struck a building in the Sumy region.The southeastern city of Nikopol was also hit, with a Russian drone striking a covered market, killing five people and wounding 25, according to Dnipropetrovsk Governor Oleksandr Ganja. In the eastern region of Donetsk, six people were killed and 10 injured over 24 hours.The Ukrainian air force reported that it had shot down or neutralized 260 of 286 Russian drones launched towards various parts of the country during overnight attacks. However, 11 drones did strike 10 locations, with debris found at six locations.In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul to discuss efforts to end the ongoing conflict. Erdogan expressed Turkey's commitment to supporting negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.The talks between Zelenskyy and Erdogan come as diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled in recent months. The two leaders also discussed maritime safety in the Black Sea and the security of energy supplies.

The United States has revoked the permanent residency of two women identified as relatives of the late Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, the former head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps foreign arm.According to a State Department statement released on Saturday, Hamideh Soleimani Afshar—Soleimani’s niece—and her daughter were arrested on Friday night and are now in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is seeking their removal from the country.The decision has sparked a debate over the limits of free‑speech protections in the United States and whether family members should be penalised for the actions or affiliations of their relatives.In its release, the State Department described Afshar as “an outspoken supporter of the totalitarian, terrorist regime in Iran,” adding that such rhetoric would not be tolerated under the Trump administration. The statement read: “The Trump Administration will not allow our country to become a home for foreign nationals who support anti‑American terrorist regimes.”Iranian media, however, quoted Afshar’s daughter, Zeinab Soleimani, who denied any connection to the late Quds Force leader, stating, “The individuals arrested in the United States have no connection whatsoever to martyr Soleimani, and the claim made by the US State Department is false.”The arrests occur at the five‑week mark of the U.S.‑Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28, 2026.This is the second known instance this month that the Trump administration has stripped legal immigration status from individuals allegedly linked to senior Iranian figures.Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to social media to claim credit for the action, writing, “This week, I terminated both Afshar and her daughter’s legal status.” He added that Afshar had “celebrated attacks on Americans and referred to our country as the ‘Great Satan.’”The State Department also highlighted Afshar’s “lavish lifestyle” in Los Angeles and noted that her husband has been barred from entering the United States.Similar pressure was applied earlier this month to Fatemeh Ardeshir‑Larijani, the daughter of the late Iranian official Ali Larijani. Both she and her husband, Seyed Kalantar Motamedi, had their U.S. immigration status revoked and were prohibited from re‑entering the country. Larijani, a former head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 17.The moves reflect growing influence from conservative politicians and activists demanding the expulsion of individuals with familial ties to Iran’s leadership.Far‑right influencer and Trump ally Laura Loomer claimed she had reported Afshar to the State Department and thanked Rubio, calling the removal a “big scalp.” An online petition on Change.org, launched two months ago, had already gathered more than 4,000 signatures calling for Afshar’s deportation.Ardeshir‑Larijani, who previously worked in oncology at Emory University’s School of Medicine, became a target of protests after Iran’s crackdown on anti‑government demonstrators in December and January. A separate Change.org petition demanding her deportation amassed 157,017 signatures by Saturday.The petition emphasized her familial links to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war, arguing that while she lives peacefully in the U.S., “countless young Iranians are dying in Iran due to the policies and decisions made by Ali Khamenei and his inner circle, including her father.”U.S. Congressman Earl “Buddy” Carter of Georgia echoed the call, urging that Ardeshir‑Larijani’s medical license be revoked. He wrote, “America’s medical institutions must not serve as a safe harbor for individuals connected by blood and loyalty to regimes that openly call for the death of Americans.”According to Emory’s student newspaper, The Emory Wheel, Ardeshir‑Larijani was no longer employed by the university as of January.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently visited Qatar, meeting with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to address pressing energy concerns amid the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel. This meeting marks a significant step in Italy's efforts to bolster its relationships with key Gulf nations and ensure a stable energy supply.The discussions between Meloni and the Qatari leader focused on energy issues and potential measures to mitigate the shocks caused by the Iran war. Italy, being highly dependent on energy imports, is particularly concerned about the rising energy prices resulting from Iran's effective blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which approximately 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas transits.During the meeting, Meloni expressed Italy's readiness to contribute to the rehabilitation of Qatari energy infrastructure, which is essential for global energy security. This commitment underscores Italy's proactive approach to addressing the energy crisis and its willingness to collaborate with Qatar to ensure a stable energy supply.The Qatari Emir's office stated that both sides stressed the need for de-escalation and prioritized political dialogue and diplomacy to contain the current crisis in the Middle East and its repercussions on energy and supply chains. They also reviewed bilateral cooperation between Italy and Qatar, exploring ways to support and develop it in various fields, particularly in the economy and energy sectors.Since the beginning of the war at the end of February, Iran has targeted US and Israeli targets in the region, as well as Gulf countries, including Qatar. Iran's attacks on Qatar's energy installations, such as the missile strike on Ras Laffan Industrial City, have caused significant damage and are expected to affect Doha's natural gas export capacity.Meloni's trip to the Gulf aimed to strengthen relations with these countries and reiterate Italy's support against Iranian attacks. As the first leader of a European Union or NATO country to travel to the region since the war broke out, Meloni's visit underscores Italy's commitment to regional stability and energy security.

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.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer seized the launch of a new package of workers’ rights, due to take effect on Monday, to launch a direct attack on the Green Party and Reform UK. He warned that supporting any rival would place recent gains in sick pay, parental leave and the curbing of zero‑hours contracts in jeopardy. Speaking ahead of the May 7 local elections, Starmer framed Labour’s agenda as the only one offering a "serious, credible economic strategy" capable of delivering the reforms. He dismissed business critics as "vested interests" who had warned against the measures. The reforms include several headline‑making changes: the two‑child benefit cap is lifted – a demand long championed by child‑poverty advocates – and the government touts this as one of its proudest achievements. A 4.8% rise in the state pension will raise weekly payments to £241.30, while the standard allowance for Universal Credit climbs by 2.3%. Under the Employment Rights Act 2025, statutory sick pay becomes a right from the first day of illness, and workers will be entitled to paternity and unpaid parental leave immediately upon starting a job. These "day‑one rights" are presented as the most significant strengthening of workers’ protections in a generation. Labour is positioning these policies as a bulwark against potential losses in English council and mayoral contests, where it faces challenges from Reform on the right and the Greens on the left. Recent YouGov data placed the Greens and Reform each at 21%** of voting intention, with Labour trailing at **17%**. Starmer’s rhetoric signals a leftward shift within Labour, amid pressure from potential leadership rivals such as Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham. He acknowledged past opposition from business leaders who warned of costs and disruption, but asserted that Labour chose to stand with "working people". Not all left‑wing allies are satisfied. Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham criticised the Employment Rights Act as "a shell of its former self," while the union recently slashed its membership fees to Labour over disputes like the Birmingham bin strike. The Conservative Party, represented by Kemi Badenoch, condemned the removal of the two‑child benefit cap, claiming it would cost billions and "reward worklessness". Government analysis estimates the change will channel at least £1 billion annually to 186,000 work‑less households, with a typical family of two unemployed adults and three children seeing a **£6,400** income boost. The bulk of the benefit is projected to flow to a handful of cities – Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford and Glasgow – each set to receive over **£200 million** per year. Starmer likened the current reforms to the Blair government’s introduction of the minimum wage 27 years ago, positioning them as a historic step forward for the UK labour market.

Last week, a coalition of more than 120 Christian leaders sent an open letter—published by The Guardian—to Sir Paul Marshall, the hedge‑fund manager who partly owns GB News. The letter accused the channel of spreading climate misinformation and called for full disclosure of any personal investments in fossil fuels, as well as transparency from GB News presenters and guests. Instead of addressing those transparency demands, Sir Paul replied in a Guardian letter, asserting that the “net‑zero consensus is crumbling.” This claim runs counter to multiple public‑opinion surveys that show a robust majority of Britons still favour decarbonisation efforts. What has shifted, analysts note, is that two of the United Kingdom’s major political parties now oppose a legally binding net‑zero target. Their stance does not appear to reflect public sentiment, prompting observers to question the motives behind the growing anti‑net‑zero rhetoric. Critics warn that as the nation’s reliance on expensive and volatile fossil fuels persists, the country edges closer to dangerous climate tipping points while households grapple with soaring energy costs. Rev Dr Darrell Hannah, chair of Operation Noah, described the situation as “curious and disheartening,” suggesting that GB News is intent on preserving an unsustainable status quo. London‑based commentator Judith Russenberger added that Sir Paul and his outlet ignore a wealth of scientific and economic evidence. She emphasized that the planet is heating faster than ever, not merely undergoing a “gradual warming phase,” and that the UK’s high electricity prices stem from a pricing system that ties power costs to the price of gas, rather than the cost of wind or solar generation. These challenges highlight a broader clash between media narratives, political positioning, and the public’s clear appetite for decisive climate action.