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Israel's main opposition leader Yair Lapid has issued a stern warning that the ongoing war with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon is taking a devastating toll on the country. In a video address, Lapid accused the government of recklessly pushing the military into a 'multi-front war without a strategy, without the necessary means, and with far too few soldiers.'Lapid's comments echo concerns raised by military chief Eyal Zamir, who reportedly warned of the military being 'stretched to the limit and beyond' in a security cabinet meeting. This criticism comes as Israel's military continues its operations in Lebanon, with plans to establish a buffer zone up to the Litani River, about 30km from the border.The conflict has already resulted in significant casualties, with almost 2,000 people killed in US-Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28, and at least 19 people killed and over 5,229 wounded in Iranian attacks in Israel. The situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire, with Israeli forces continuing near-daily attacks, killing more than 700 Palestinians since October 2025.Lapid, a centrist figure in Israeli politics, has consistently criticized the government's handling of the war while supporting Israel's military campaigns in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and elsewhere. He has also expressed support for Israeli expansion as far as Iraq, citing Zionist and biblical foundations.The international community is watching closely, with Lebanon planning to complain to the United Nations Security Council over Israeli attacks, which it views as a threat to its sovereignty. As the conflict escalates, many analysts and politicians, especially in the Israeli opposition, question the effectiveness of the current government's strategy.

Mohaddeseh Fallahat recalled the ordinary morning of February 28 when she prepared her children for school, never imagining it would be the last time she would see them alive. That simple morning routine now haunts her as she struggles to cope with the devastating loss of her two children.Speaking through tears to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva via videolink, Fallahat described the unbearable pain of sending her children off with a smile, only to be met with silence. "My heart burns with pain," she shared, as the memory of their final words—"Mum, come pick us up after school"—repeats endlessly in her mind.Her children were among more than 170 people killed when United States Tomahawk missiles struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls' School in Minab, southern Iran, during the initial hours of the US-Israeli assault. The majority of victims were schoolgirls, marking one of the deadliest attacks on educational facilities in recent memory.Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the council with strong condemnation, asserting that the attack was no mere miscalculation. "No one can believe that the attack on the school was anything other than deliberate and intentional," he stated, pointing to the advanced precision technologies claimed by American and Israeli forces.Araghchi accused the US and Israel of "slaughtering [victims] in cold blood" and committing "the worst humanitarian crimes with impunity." He called on UN member states to denounce what he described as a "blatantly unjustified" war on Iran, warning that indifference would bring no lasting security or peace.UN special rapporteur on the right to education, Farida Shaheed, presented evidence suggesting the school was "each struck individually by precision munition," indicating intentional targeting. However, ongoing investigations suggest the attack may have resulted from "outdated intelligence" used by the US military.Shaheed emphasized that "the killing of children can never, ever be justified" and highlighted the broader impact on education in Iran, where more than 600 schools and education facilities have been destroyed or severely damaged by US-Israeli attacks, with at least 230 children and teachers confirmed dead.UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk reinforced that targeting schools constitutes a grave violation of international law, stating: "Whatever differences countries have, we can all agree they will not be solved by killing schoolchildren."

Australia's recent introduction of 'hate speech' laws has sparked controversy, with human rights groups warning that the legislation could be used to suppress legitimate criticism of Israel's actions in Palestine. The laws, which were rushed through the New South Wales federal parliament in January, specifically target speech considered anti-Semitic and carry a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment for those found guilty. Arif Hussein, senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, has expressed concerns that the legislation could be used to unfairly impact peaceful protest and speech regarding Israel's actions in Palestine. “There are serious concerns that the new laws could have a chilling effect on legitimate activism and protest and unfairly impact peaceful protest and speech regarding Israel’s actions in Palestine,” Hussein said. The laws have been introduced in response to a mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach in December, which killed 15 people. However, critics argue that the legislation prioritizes the protection of the Jewish community over other vulnerable groups. Greens party spokesperson Senator David Shoebridge has criticized the laws, saying they were 'deliberately designed to not protect' vulnerable communities such as Muslims, women, and LGBTQ+ Australians. “Unfortunately, the Albanese Labor government and the Liberals made the decision to protect just one religion,” he said. The laws have also been criticized for their broad and poorly defined criminal powers, which could be used against legitimate human rights groups, including those focused on Palestine. Police powers across Australia have also been strengthened to crack down on pro-Palestine protests, with reports of excessive force used against demonstrators. The controversy surrounding the laws highlights the challenges of balancing free speech with the need to combat hate speech and protect vulnerable communities.

Wales and Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were dashed on Friday as both teams suffered defeats in their playoff semi-finals. Wales lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Ireland was beaten by the Czech Republic. The losses mean both teams will not feature in the upcoming World Cup, with Ireland facing a minimum of 28 years between appearances.The double-screening pain was palpable for fans, with both matches featuring penalty shootouts that ended in heartbreak. Dan James gave Wales the lead against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but they ultimately lost in a shootout. Ireland, on the other hand, went 2-0 up inside 23 minutes against the Czech Republic but also ended in defeat.The losses have left both teams facing a long wait for their next World Cup appearance. For Ireland, it will be a minimum of 28 years, while Wales' wait continues after their last appearance in 2022. The teams will now face friendlies, with Wales set to host Northern Ireland.In other news, Roy Hodgson's return to management with Bristol City has been hailed as 'sensational'. The 78-year-old former England manager has decided to have another crack at it after leaving Crystal Palace.Meanwhile, Iran's men's team paid tribute before their friendly against Nigeria by holding school bags in memory of the victims of a school bombing in Minab, southern Iran, which killed between 175 and 180 people, most of them girls between the ages of seven and 12.

The US and Israel are intensifying their military campaign against Iran, with Senator Marco Rubio stating that the operation is expected to conclude in 'weeks, not months'. The conflict escalated with a surprise strike on 28 February that killed Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.Despite Iran's defiance and denial of negotiations, the US and Israel continue to target Iran's nuclear facilities and military sites. Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, warned that attacks against Iran will 'escalate and expand' to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens.The conflict has significant economic implications, with the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil is usually shipped, being a key point of contention. The US has ordered thousands of marines and elite airborne troops to the region, possibly in preparation for a military effort to forcibly reopen the waterway.Iran has threatened to attack Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu and the Fujairah oil complex in the United Arab Emirates if a ground invasion takes place. The US president, Donald Trump, has issued an ultimatum to Iran, demanding that it allow free passage of shipping through the strait by 6 April or face the destruction of its energy plants.The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 1,900 people killed and 20,000 injured in Iran, and 19 people killed in Israel. The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has worsened, with a fifth of the population displaced and nearly 1,100 people killed.The G7 foreign ministers have reiterated the need for safe and toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and called for an immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

When Hurricane Beryl devastated Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines in July 2024, 61-year-old Tedica Alexander found refuge at the Ashton community center, which her grandchildren called 'Final Destination.' As the storm intensified, the shelter quickly filled to capacity with 47 children and 147 adults, including three people using wheelchairs, while windows shattered and floodwaters rose above ankle height. Alexander's experience mirrors a broader pattern revealed across the Caribbean: women often take on caretaker roles during natural disasters, yet studies show this responsibility can make their experiences more difficult. UN Women reported in 2022 that pre-existing social and cultural demands on women as primary caregivers increase their vulnerability during disasters, with gendered roles making women and girls more likely to be killed in such events. While emergency shelters provide critical protection from storms, they often fail to address gender-based violence risks. A 2021 systematic review published in BMJ Global Health found that post-disaster environments frequently heighten risks for women and girls, with inadequate shelter infrastructure—such as lack of doors, walls, and locks—contributing to increased violence in Haiti, Japan, and Nepal. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has been working to address these challenges, according to Loyce Pace, the organization's Americas regional director. The federation publishes manuals providing guidance to agencies working during natural disasters, focusing on ensuring governments understand their roles in emergencies and have access to necessary resources. Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain. In the Bahamas, emergency shelter capacity accommodates only 3% of the population, according to Aarone Sargent, managing director of the Disaster Risk Management Authority. During Hurricane Melissa in 2025, approximately 1,800 people from the southern islands were evacuated to New Providence and accommodated in six or seven shelters. The recovery phase presents particular difficulties for women. As Pace notes, while immediate response has improved attention to vulnerable populations, the recovery period often proves more challenging, especially for single women seeking loans or rebuilding businesses. Alexander, whose home and livelihood were destroyed in Hurricane Beryl, continues to live without electricity or water, struggling to regain stability months after the disaster. As the Caribbean region faces increasingly frequent and intense storms, experts emphasize the need for gender-responsive disaster planning and adequate shelter infrastructure that addresses the specific vulnerabilities women and girls face before, during, and after natural disasters.

Iran's national football team made a poignant statement before a friendly match against Nigeria in Turkey on Friday. As their anthem played, the players held up school bags and wore black armbands, a powerful gesture of protest against the killing of schoolgirls in a recent US-Israeli strike.The friendly match, held in the resort town of Belek, comes as Iran's participation in the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada hangs in the balance due to the ongoing conflict. The team's actions were a clear reference to the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school, which Tehran claims resulted in the deaths of over 175 people, including children and teachers, on the first day of joint US-Israeli strikes.An Iranian team spokesperson confirmed that "the players are holding the school bags close to their heart in remembrance of the 165 girls the Americans killed in an Iranian school." This dramatic gesture underscores the team's stance on the issue and highlights the human cost of the conflict.The incident has sparked significant controversy, with some members of Iran's women's football team refraining from singing the national anthem during an Asian Cup match earlier this month. State TV in Tehran responded by labeling them "traitors."Iran's football federation had sought to have their national team's World Cup games relocated from the US to Mexico, but this request was rejected by Fifa. The team, which lost Friday's game 2-1 to Nigeria, is set to play Costa Rica in another friendly match in Turkey on Tuesday.

Rania Jaber had always dreamed of having a daughter, and when Narjis was born in 2020, she was overjoyed. Narjis was a bright and caring child, always looking out for her parents and twin brothers. Tragically, on March 2, Israeli bombs struck the family's home in Maifadoun, south Lebanon, killing Narjis and her aunt.Jaber described her daughter as 'wise beyond her years,' recalling how Narjis would comfort her during stressful times. The last thing Narjis said to her mother was, 'Mama, you're my life. Don't cry, I love you so much.' Hours later, Narjis was killed in the airstrike that left her mother and two brothers injured.Narjis's death is one of many child casualties in the conflict. Since the war began, 120 other children in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli strikes, making up nearly 10% of all deaths in the country. The Basma family, who were killed in an airstrike on their home in Nabatieh on March 14, is another example of the devastating impact on families.Experts warn that exposure to violence in children can lead to long-term developmental and behavioral issues. Dr. Rabih El Chammay, head of the national mental health program at the Lebanese ministry of public health, emphasized that 'children wake in fear, parents carry unbearable worry, and the hurt will echo for years, if not generations, after the bombs fall silent.'Jaber plans to seek psychological treatment for her sons once the war ends, deeply concerned about the long-term trauma caused by the bombing. For now, she and her family must cope with the immense grief of losing Narjis, a child described as 'incredibly kind, gentle, and loving.'

A devastating bus accident occurred in central Bangladesh on Wednesday, resulting in at least 24 fatalities. The bus, which was carrying 40 passengers, lost control while approaching a ferry at Daulatdia in Rajbari district, about 100km from Dhaka.The bus sank nearly 9 metres into the river, making rescue efforts challenging. Rescuers recovered 22 bodies from inside the submerged bus, including five children, 11 women, and six men. Two more women died later after being rescued.Search and rescue efforts were led by four fire service units and 10 divers, supported by the army, police, coastguard, and local authorities. Officials fear that more passengers may still be missing.The accident highlights the poor road safety record in Bangladesh, where hundreds of people die each year in road and ferry accidents. The World Health Organization estimates that over 31,500 traffic-related deaths occur annually, translating to more than 85 deaths per day in the country of 170 million people.Deadly crashes are relatively common in Bangladesh due to poor roads, badly maintained vehicles, and reckless driving. The country's Road Safety Foundation reported over 200 deaths during the recent Eid holidays, including a train-bus collision that killed 12 people.