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President Donald Trump told allies that Tehran does not need to negotiate a settlement for the hostilities to cease, estimating the conflict could be over in two to three weeks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, dismissed any hope of talks, stating that Tehran has zero trust in Washington.US‑Israeli air raids persist across Iran, hitting key industrial and civilian targets such as steel factories in Isfahan and Farokhshahr, pharmaceutical facilities, port infrastructure, meteorological stations and a residential complex. Iranian state media and the Red Crescent reported explosions in cities including Ahvaz, Shiraz, Isfahan, Karaj, Kermanshah and Bandar Abbas.An Iranian official said the Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical raw‑material plant in Tehran was struck, crippling its research and development wing and delivering a "blow to the national medical supply chain." In Bandar Abbas, the Shahid Haqqani passenger pier was bombed, though officials claimed no casualties.A desalination plant on Qeshm Island, crucial for water supply in the Strait of Hormuz, was knocked out of service by the strikes.Analyst Trita Parsi warned that the war is unlikely to end swiftly and that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, noting that it will not be easy for President Trump to simply walk away from the conflict.Casualties have surpassed 2,000 Iranians, with numerous civilian sites—including hospitals, schools, universities and pharmaceutical factories—targeted, raising concerns of potential war‑crime violations.On the diplomatic front, Spain, France and Italy have begun curbing U.S. military operations by closing airspace, denying base access and limiting logistical support. Meanwhile, China and Pakistan have tabled a five‑point cease‑fire proposal that calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.Regional leaders are also active: Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have convened to discuss the Iran war, while Argentina, under President Javier Milei, officially labeled Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a “terrorist” organization.Pope Francis (Leo XIV) appealed directly to President Trump, urging an end to the violence and expressing hope that the U.S. leader is moving toward a resolution.In the Gulf, Iranian drones have repeatedly struck Kuwait’s airport, forcing the closure of its airspace since late February; Saudi Arabia has stepped in to provide transport for affected passengers. Bahrain sounded air‑raid sirens, and Saudi forces reported intercepting two additional drones.A merchant vessel north of Doha suffered damage from an "unknown projectile," though the crew remained unharmed and no environmental harm was recorded.U.S. officials remain divided: while Trump predicts a rapid end, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the United States is "negotiating with bombs" and that the coming days are decisive. The war’s uncertainty has pushed oil prices higher, prompting U.S. Senator Chris Coons to warn that American families face rising grocery, utility and mortgage costs.Israel continues to face coordinated attacks from Iran and Hezbollah, with missile and drone incursions reported across northern and central regions. Despite these threats, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Iran’s regional allies no longer pose an "existential threat," yet Israel plans to maintain its offensive, including operations in Lebanon.In Lebanon, Israeli ground advances and heavy bombardments have resulted in over 1,200 deaths and displaced roughly 1.2 million people since early March. Iraqi militia Kata’ib Sayyid al‑Shuhada warned that any U.S. ground incursion into Iran via Kuwait could trigger an all‑out war.

Closing the Strait of Hormuz has choked a vital artery that carries roughly one‑fifth of the world’s crude oil and LNG, sending energy prices soaring and unsettling global trade. Even if the waterway reopens tomorrow, analysts say the ripple effects will endure for months. Nils Haupt, senior director of corporate communications at German carrier Hapag‑Lloyd, told Al Jazeera that the end of hostilities does not equate to the end of logistics challenges. “Once the bombardments stop, the real work begins,” he said, noting that hundreds of vessels will scramble for berths in Persian Gulf ports, creating a prolonged bottleneck for containers and bulk cargo. According to the International Maritime Organization, about 2,000 ships are currently stranded because of Iran’s partial blockade, with only a handful of vessels from “friendly” nations granted passage. Maritime‑intelligence firm Windward estimates that roughly 400 of those ships are anchored in the Gulf of Oman, waiting for a green light. Diverted traffic has already forced many carriers to reroute via the Suez Canal or take the far longer Cape of Good Hope passage, inflating transit times and costs for shipments bound for Asia and Europe. Oil exports from Saudi Arabia are now being sent around the Red Sea, bypassing the strait entirely. Svein Ringbakken, managing director of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Mutual War Risks Association, cautioned that even with ports operating at full capacity, clearing the backlog of oil, gas and other goods will take months. He added that repeated attacks on regional energy and transport infrastructure have compounded the problem. The International Energy Agency reports that more than 40 energy assets across the Middle East have suffered “severe or very severe” damage, prompting companies such as QatarEnergy, Kuwait Petroleum Company and Bahrain’s Bapco Energies to declare force majeure. Beyond the immediate loss of flow, the shutdown has disrupted exports of petrochemicals, fertilisers and raw materials essential for plastics production, further straining global supply chains. Industry leaders warn that the risk landscape has fundamentally shifted. SV Anchan, chairman of US‑based logistics group Safesea, highlighted the rise of asymmetric threats, including unmanned vessel attacks, which have already accounted for at least 18 confirmed assaults since the conflict began. “A full reopening will only bring normalcy after a sustained period of stability and credible security guarantees,” Anchan said. Insurance costs have exploded as a result. Marco Forgione of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade noted that hull and cargo premiums have surged up to 300 %, a pressure point that could force shipping firms to curtail operations if rates remain high. Oscar Seikaly, CEO of NSI Insurance Group, stressed that war‑risk coverage will only normalize when a “truly permanent” security solution is in place, not a partial one. Recent data from Lloyd’s List show that a few vessels have managed to obtain Tehran’s permission to transit, with one ship reportedly paying $2 million for the right to pass. Iranian lawmakers have also moved to formalise transit fees for the strait. Nick Marro, lead global‑trade analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, warned that the security guarantees demanded by shippers may be hard to meet, citing the volatile Red Sea experience where commercial traffic remains below pre‑2023 levels. Marro predicts that the Hormuz shutdown will accelerate a broader trend of route diversification, similar to the supply‑chain shifts triggered by the COVID‑19 pandemic. “Geopolitical uncertainty will become a permanent feature of risk management, not a temporary reaction,” he said. Seikaly echoed this outlook, suggesting that exporters will increasingly explore alternative corridors for strategic and political reasons, ultimately reducing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz over the long term.

The families of British citizens held in the United Arab Emirates over allegations that they shared images of the conflict with Iran have expressed frustration at the British government's failure to help.Several British citizens are among more than 100 foreign nationals who have been detained under draconian Emirate rules that outlaw publishing or sharing material that could 'disturb public security'.UK government ministers have refused to condemn the arrests, amid claims they are too fearful of offending the Emirates because of their economic clout.The campaign group Dubai Watch, which is supporting nine British detainees, said their identities could not be revealed for fear of reprisals. But it has shown the Guardian anonymised correspondence from their increasingly anxious families.A mother whose daughter is being held wrote: 'This experience is exhausting, mentally and emotionally.'She described reading media reports about the continuing conflict in which Iran has retaliated against US and Israelis strikes by firing drones and missiles against its Gulf neighbours, including the UAE.She said: 'I have just read another article, and quite frankly I could do one purely on the inadequacies and sycophantic responses from this [UK] embassy.'She also expressed increasing fears for her daughter's safety as attacks continued. The mother said: 'I spoke to [my daughter] last night and they are no longer allowed to go outside in the courtyard as it's now deemed too dangerous to do so. This is an even bigger worry as they are all just sitting ducks.'Another message from a woman whose husband had been detained under the same law said the case had been 'mishandled'. She added: 'We are scared because nobody is telling us the truth. Can you please help us.'Police in Abu Dhabi said those detained had 'filmed sites and events and disseminated inaccurate information via social media platforms during the ongoing events, an action that could stir public opinion and spread rumours among community members'. In a statement, the officials said these 'violations' amounted to a 'misuse of social media'.Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, confirmed that one of the detainees was a St Albans' constituent. She said their family was frustrated by the lack of consular help.Cooper told the Guardian: 'I'm deeply concerned that my constituent has been held with very little contact with their family, with no clear access to legal counsel, and no confirmation that UK consular officials have been permitted to visit them. The family are distressed and desperate for information about their wellbeing.'Cooper also criticised the UAE's round-up of anyone it has accused of sharing images of the conflict. She said: 'The response from the authorities appears wholly disproportionate given the nature of the allegations.'The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that five UK nationals were receiving consular assistance in the UAE.David Haigh, a human rights lawyer and founder of Dubai Watch, said: 'There's an awful lot more than five cases. The embassy is overwhelmed.'He added: 'There hasn't been any government intervention because it would offend the UAE and they don't want to do that. Impotent is the best way to describe the response. They're too scared – it's all about the money and investment from the UAE.'

On 30 December 2023, Brooklyn‑based musician Wendy Eisenberg emerged from an all‑night rave in Bushwick feeling physically ill and mentally rattled. A spontaneous, anxiety‑driven walk that lasted the entire day became the catalyst for what Eisenberg later described as a personal “exorcism”.During the trek, an old friend suggested Eisenberg pick up a guitar, prompting the artist to return home and begin writing the material that would become their self‑titled album. Eisenberg recalled the intensity of Cat Power’s rapid‑fire creation of Moon Pix, noting that many of the new songs were drafted in a similar dream‑state over the following three to four months.Since the debut Time Machine, Eisenberg has built a reputation as a multi‑instrumentalist who oscillates between confessional folk and avant‑garde improvisation. Collaborator Bill Orcutt praised their guitar work as “musical MSG”, capable of elevating any ensemble. Yet the forthcoming record deliberately steps back from experimental excess, drawing instead on the playful melodies and graceful harmonies of 70s folk‑rock while retaining the ambition of earlier projects.The album’s orchestration, co‑produced with partner Mari Rubio (aka More Eaze), emphasizes beauty through complexity. Eisenberg explains that the “harmonic vocabulary reflects a newfound sense of comfort and happiness”, aiming for an “earned, adult sound of happiness” that mirrors the messy process of self‑acceptance.At the heart of the record lies a deeply personal narrative. A breakup that shattered Eisenberg’s sense of identity forced them to confront both heartbreak and the pressure to conform to “straight” norms. The experience sparked a decisive embrace of their queer, non‑binary, lesbian identity, a transformation Eisenberg describes as a “revelatory moment”.Music has long served as Eisenberg’s refuge; their father’s lullabies and an early fascination with Joni Mitchell, Gram Parsons, and the Everly Brothers laid the groundwork for a lifelong devotion to songcraft. After years of intensive study at the New England Conservatory and experimental collaborations, Eisenberg’s new work channels those influences into a more accessible, yet still richly textured, sound.Beyond the music, the album’s backstory includes an unexpected romance sparked by the British quiz show Only Connect. After meeting Rubio in August 2023, the pair bonded over the show on Valentine’s Day, leading to their first kiss and, months later, cohabitation. Eisenberg credits this partnership with providing the emotional stability needed to complete the album.Critics have already hailed the record as “one of the best things you will hear this year”, noting its blend of 70s singer‑songwriter sensibility with modern lyrical honesty. Tracks such as “Meaning Business” confront PTSD and past trauma, while others explore the joy of self‑realization.The album will be released on Joyful Noise on 3 April 2024, offering listeners a window into Eisenberg’s journey from “exorcism” to artistic renewal, and solidifying their place as a compelling voice in contemporary indie folk.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has issued a scathing statement on the club’s recent appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as head coach on a five‑year contract. The Trust says the move places a heavy strain on unity while the team fights to avoid relegation from the Premier League. Central to the criticism is De Zerbi’s public endorsement of Mason Greenwood during his tenure at Marseille. Greenwood, a former England forward, faced serious criminal allegations in 2022—including attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the case in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew and new material emerged, though Greenwood has consistently denied the charges. De Zerbi described Greenwood as a “good person” and expressed sympathy for the player, remarks that were swiftly condemned by supporter groups such as Proud Lilywhites (the club’s LGBTQI+ association) and Women of the Lane. The Trust noted it had reached out to Tottenham before the appointment to voice its opposition. “While we recognise the limited pool of managers with recent Premier League experience, this appointment raises serious and far‑reaching concerns,” the Trust said. “De Zerbi’s comments about Mason Greenwood were unnecessary, ill‑judged, and deeply offensive to many supporters, and will alarm victims of male violence.” The Trust warned that unchecked statements could create a divide among supporters at a time when the club’s “All Together, Always” initiative is meant to rally fans behind the team. It called on Tottenham and De Zerbi to publicly reaffirm their commitment to equality, respect and integrity, and to back those words with concrete actions, including sustained support for women’s charities fighting violence. Tottenham have been contacted for comment.

Penguin Random House has taken legal action against OpenAI, claiming that its ChatGPT chatbot infringed on the copyright of a popular German children's book series, Coconut the Little Dragon, by generating text and images virtually indistinguishable from the original work.The lawsuit, filed with a Munich court against OpenAI's Ireland-based European subsidiary, asserts that ChatGPT's responses to prompts were 'clear evidence' that the large-language model had unlawfully 'memorised' the work of Ingo Siegner, the author and illustrator of the Coconut series.Penguin Random House argues that ChatGPT's ability to generate a story, cover, and blurb for a children's book featuring Coconut the Dragon on Mars demonstrates that OpenAI's technology has unlawfully stored and reproduced Siegner's work.This lawsuit could set a precedent for other publishers in the industry, as it challenges the use of AI models that can mimic and reproduce copyrighted material. Carina Mathern, a Penguin Random House publisher, emphasized that the company is committed to protecting intellectual property while remaining open to the opportunities offered by AI.In response, an OpenAI spokesperson stated that the company is reviewing the allegations and respects creators and content owners, while also engaging in productive conversations with many publishers worldwide.This legal action follows a previous ruling by a Munich court in November 2025, which found that ChatGPT had violated German copyright laws by using hits from top-selling musicians to train its language models.

New legislation takes effect on 31 March 2026 as the UK government rolls out the Simpler Recycling framework, requiring every council in England to provide distinct collections for food & garden waste, paper & card, all other dry recyclables (glass, metal, plastic, cartons) and residual waste. This uniform approach replaces the historic “postcode lottery” of waste services, applying to all households – including flats and communal properties. Recycling performance: England’s municipal recycling rate has plateaued at ~44% for several years, well below Wales (57%) and Northern Ireland (≈50%). The government’s ambition is a 65% recycling rate by 2035, a target that will require substantial behavioural and infrastructure shifts. Environment minister Mary Creagh confirmed that councils have received a notable budget increase for 2026 to support the rollout. How collected material is processed: Once gathered, waste is taken to Materials Recovery Facilities where magnets, optical scanners and air jets separate streams into paper, plastics, glass and metals. These are then baled and sent to reprocessors for conversion into new products. Approximately 50% of the UK’s recycled plastic is exported, mainly to Turkey, the Netherlands and Malaysia. This export trend has drawn criticism for undermining the domestic recycling sector, which industry estimates could generate £2 billion in revenue and support around 5,000 jobs. In the past two years, 21 plastic‑recycling facilities have closed, citing low virgin‑plastic prices, competition from cheap Asian imports and the scale of exports. By contrast, the UK still lacks a ban on plastic‑waste exports to developing nations, a policy the EU has already adopted. Paper and cardboard recycling also relies heavily on overseas processing, with 3.4‑4.3 million tonnes shipped abroad each year. Food waste collection overhaul: The most visible change is the introduction of free, weekly food‑waste collection for every household. Residents will receive a small kitchen caddy and a larger outdoor bin. When separated, food waste can be fed into anaerobic digestion facilities to produce renewable energy and bio‑fertiliser, reducing landfill‑derived methane – a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than CO₂. The policy is also expected to raise public awareness of personal waste generation, encouraging more responsible disposal habits. Implementation timeline: While all councils must standardise dry‑recycling collections by 31 March, a transitional arrangement allows 31 councils to delay the start of weekly food‑waste collection beyond the initial Tuesday. Contamination risks: Mixing biodegradable or compostable plastics with conventional recyclable plastics can contaminate entire batches, rendering them unrecyclable. Similarly, placing paper or cardboard in residual waste diverts it to landfill or incineration, increasing greenhouse‑gas emissions. Toothpaste tubes have historically been problematic, but a Wrap‑led initiative now makes most tubes 100% recyclable. Consumers can verify local acceptance via RecycleNow, and Boots stores also collect used tubes for recycling.

California is taking a significant step in regulating the artificial intelligence (AI) industry by introducing new standards for companies seeking to do business with the state. This move directly contradicts former President Donald Trump's stance on keeping the industry as deregulated as possible. Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on March 30, giving the state four months to develop AI policies that prioritize public safety. Companies hoping to secure contracts with California will be required to demonstrate policies that prevent AI from distributing child sexual abuse material and violent pornography. They must also show how their models avoid incorporating “harmful bias” and detail policies aimed at avoiding “unlawful discrimination, detention, and surveillance”. The order also directs the state to come up with best practices for watermarking AI-generated or -manipulated images and videos. Newsom emphasized California's commitment to innovation while ensuring that companies protect people's rights and do not exploit or put them in harm's way. California's actions are part of a broader trend of state-level attempts to regulate an AI industry that has raised public safety concerns and worries about the potential for job displacement due to automation. According to the New York Times, states have passed more than 100 laws to shield children from chatbots and to block AI companies from using copyright-protected material. The White House issued a national policy framework for AI in December that discouraged states from passing such regulations, with Trump's executive order calling for minimal regulation to allow U.S. AI companies to innovate freely. In response, the Justice Department established an “AI Litigation Task Force” to challenge state AI regulations.

Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity confirmed that an Iranian attack on a power and water desalination plant resulted in the death of an Indian worker and significant material damage to a service building. The attack is part of Iranian aggression against Kuwait, according to the ministry.Emergency response teams were quickly dispatched to the site to manage the aftermath and ensure continued operations. The incident occurred as regional tensions spike following the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran over a month ago.Iranian forces have retaliated against Israel and countries hosting US military assets with drone and missile strikes, causing casualties and infrastructure damage. The conflict has also led to Iran effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas, driving up energy prices and unsettling financial markets.The vulnerability of critical water infrastructure in one of the world's most water-scarce regions has been exposed by the war. Kuwait has faced repeated attacks since the conflict began, including the detection of 14 missiles and 12 drones in its airspace, with several targeting a military camp and injuring 10 servicemen.The US and Israeli attacks on Iran have killed over 2,000 people, including high-ranking officials and children, and destroyed critical infrastructure. The situation remains volatile, with US President Donald Trump pausing threatened attacks on Iranian energy plants until April 6, and Iran vowing to respond to any attacks on its facilities with strikes on energy sites across the Gulf region.