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Israel has intensified its military campaign in southern Lebanon, conducting deadly strikes on several towns, resulting in significant casualties. The attacks occurred just a day after Lebanese and Israeli envoys held rare talks in Washington, DC, facilitated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. These talks marked the first direct contact between the two countries in decades.According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA), Wednesday's attacks killed at least 13 people, including a family of four in the town of Jbaa. The strikes also targeted other towns, including Ansariyeh, Qadmus, Saadiyat, and Jiyeh. The escalation has sparked anger among the Lebanese population, with many questioning the government's decision to engage in diplomatic talks with Israel while attacks continue.Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, noted that residents are demanding an end to the attacks and expressing frustration over the government's handling of the situation. The Lebanese government has faced criticism for its concessions and perceived weakness in dealing with Israel. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah accused the government of squandering Lebanon's political and military strength and criticized its decision to withdraw the army from the south.The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned group, has resulted in over 2,000 deaths in recent weeks. The situation remains volatile, with ceasefire talks being a key point of contention. Hezbollah is seeking a comprehensive ceasefire, while Israel has ruled out discussions on a ceasefire in the latest war.

While the world focuses on diplomatic efforts to end the war on Iran, Israel has intensified its military actions in Gaza, resulting in a significant escalation of the humanitarian crisis. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza has drastically decreased, violating the October 2025 ceasefire agreement with Hamas. According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, there have been 2,400 military violations by Israeli forces since then, leading to the deaths of over 700 Palestinians.Recent attacks have resulted in significant casualties, including 11 Palestinians killed on Tuesday, with two being children. The intensity of these attacks spiked during peak regional tensions, with Israeli forces bombing Gaza on 36 out of 40 days between February 28 and April 8, while Israel and the US were engaged in a bombing campaign against Iran.The situation in Gaza has deteriorated to the point where economic experts describe it as an 'engineered, compounded famine'. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza is severely limited, with only 41,714 aid and commercial trucks entering over the past six months, representing just 37% of the agreed-upon 110,400 trucks. The fuel situation is even more critical, with only 1,366 fuel trucks entering out of a promised 9,200.Palestinian officials and economic experts argue that Israel is using a 'technical and commercial deception' to inflate the number of aid trucks entering Gaza. This has led to a severe shortage of basic commodities, with bread production plummeting to 200 tonnes daily, far below the 450 tonnes required to feed the population.The crisis has evolved into a complete collapse of the Palestinian economy, with unemployment soaring to 80% and the destruction of over 160,000 jobs across various sectors. The population has lost its purchasing power, forcing civilians into life-threatening situations.The international community has been urged to pressure Israel to open the crossings and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with 18,000 people still trapped, waiting for life-saving medical treatment abroad.

Tehran has issued an uncompromising demand for $270 billion in reparations for the devastation wrought by United States and Israeli strikes since the war began on 28 February. The figure, disclosed by government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani in an interview with Russia’s RIA Novosti, aggregates both direct and indirect losses across a wide range of sectors. Iran’s UN envoy asserted that five regional states must contribute to the compensation, alleging that their territories served as launchpads for attacks on Iranian soil. In parallel, Tehran floated a Strait of Hormuz protocol that would levy a tax on vessels transiting the strategic waterway, earmarking the proceeds for reconstruction. The war has battered Iran’s critical infrastructure: oil and gas complexes, petrochemical plants, steel and aluminium factories, as well as military installations have been repeatedly struck. Damage extends to bridges, ports, railways, universities, research centres, power stations and desalination plants, while countless hospitals, schools and civilian homes have been either damaged or razed. In the aviation sector, Maghsoud Asadi Samani, secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines, reported that 60 civilian aircraft have been rendered inoperable, with 20 completely destroyed. Iran now operates roughly 160 passenger planes, many of which are decades old and suffer from parts shortages due to stringent US sanctions. The airline industry estimates losses exceeding 300 trillion rials (≈ $190 million) over just 40 days of conflict, compounded by the loss of anticipated revenue from the Nowruz holiday period. Despite the extensive damage, Iranian officials have signalled no willingness to make major concessions in forthcoming negotiations with Washington, including on nuclear enrichment. Hard‑line parliament spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei warned that extending the recent two‑week ceasefire would merely allow the US and Israel to replenish their arsenals, urging the United States to either recognise Iran’s rights—particularly over the Strait of Hormuz—or return to hostilities. Financially, Iran allocated close to $8 billion to its military in 2024, according to SIPRI, and has pledged to triple that budget following previous missile exchanges with Israel. Yet the economy remains strained by years of sanctions, mismanagement and corruption. Compounding the economic strain, the government‑imposed near‑total internet shutdown—affecting over 90 million users—has been estimated to cost the nation up to $80 million per day. Afshin Kolahi of the Iran Chamber of Commerce warned that the blackout equates to losing the output of four B1‑class bridges and two medium‑capacity power plants each day. While a limited “Internet Pro” service is being offered to select users, the majority of the population remains confined to a state‑controlled intranet, prompting widespread calls for internet freedom. These intertwined military, economic and digital pressures underscore the high stakes of the anticipated US‑Iran talks, with Tehran demanding acknowledgment of its losses and a pathway to rebuild a war‑torn nation.

Israeli and Lebanese officials have engaged in historic talks in Washington, DC, marking the first direct negotiations between the two countries since 1983. The meeting, facilitated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, lasted over two hours and focused on addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.The talks come as Israel continues its military campaign against Hezbollah, which has resulted in nearly 2,124 deaths and displaced over 1.1 million people in Lebanon. The conflict has tested the fragile ceasefire struck on April 8, which paused the US and Israel's war on Iran for two weeks.Israel's ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, described the discussions as a 'wonderful exchange', highlighting points of agreement, including a push to remove Hezbollah from Lebanon. Lebanon's ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, characterized the talks as 'constructive', emphasizing the need for a ceasefire, the return of displaced people, and measures to ease the humanitarian crisis.Despite the positive remarks, heavy fighting continues in the region, with Hezbollah launching daily drone, rocket, and artillery attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon. The group also retains significant influence in parts of Lebanon, including Beirut's southern suburbs and areas in the south and east.The US Secretary of State acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating that progress would take time and that the parties are working against decades of history and complexities. The talks have raised hopes for a potential ceasefire and disarmament of Hezbollah, but a near-term end to the fighting appears uncertain.

Israeli military forces have launched a series of strikes across the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, including two children, a three-year-old and a 14-year-old. These attacks occurred despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that came into effect on October 10 last year.The violence escalated in the northern part of the Gaza enclave on Tuesday, with Gaza's Civil Defence authorities and the Reuters news agency confirming the deaths. Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for Gaza's Civil Defence, reported that four people were killed, including the three-year-old, in a strike targeting a police vehicle in Gaza City. The Ministry of Interior stated that Israeli warplanes had targeted the police vehicle, causing several deaths and injuries, with a police officer among those killed and at least nine bystanders wounded, some critically.Further violence was reported in the northern Beit Lahiya area, where another person was killed by Israeli fire earlier in the day. Later on Tuesday evening, Civil Defence reported that another Israeli strike killed several people near an intersection in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Medics at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed receiving five bodies from an Israeli drone bombing involving two missiles that hit a group of people in the Shati refugee camp.Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces continue to carry out daily strikes on Gaza, resulting in almost 760 Palestinians killed since the truce was agreed upon. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that an additional 2,111 Palestinians have been injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire was announced, while a total of 72,336 people have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of Israel's war on the territory on October 7, 2023.

Marwan Barghouti, often referred to as Palestine's Nelson Mandela, has been facing a pattern of escalating abuse in Israeli jails, his lawyer Ben Marmarelli has said. Barghouti has been attacked three times in as many weeks, including an incident where prison guards set a dog on him.The 66-year-old Palestinian leader has been held in Israeli jails since his conviction for ordering attacks that killed civilians during the second intifada. His trial was criticized as flawed by legal experts, and Mandela himself reportedly described it as a legal attack on a legitimate political struggle.Marmarelli said that Barghouti faced violence, medical neglect, and treatment that places him at immediate risk in jail. On March 25, prison guards entered Barghouti's cell with a dog and forced him to the ground, where the dog repeatedly attacked him. The following day, Barghouti was assaulted during a transfer to another prison, and on April 8, guards at that jail beat him severely, left him bleeding for over two hours, and denied requests for medical treatment.Despite the abuse, Marmarelli said Barghouti's mind was sharp, focused, and deeply engaged with everything happening outside those prison walls. The lawyer added that the only way to protect Barghouti is to secure his immediate release, as there can be no guarantee of his safety while he is held in an Israeli jail.The Israeli Prison Service did not respond to requests for comment on Barghouti's treatment. The Palestinian leader's son, Arab Barghouti, thanked artists speaking up for his father and called for others to join the campaign to free him, citing the critical role artists played in the movement to free Mandela and end apartheid in South Africa.

As millions of Americans rush to file their taxes on Tax Day, a new report reveals that the average US household spent $4,049 on military-related spending in 2025, up from $3,707 in 2024. This increase comes as Donald Trump pushes for a 40% increase in federal defense spending, despite growing concerns over rising living costs and government expenditure.The report by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) thinktank found that military-related spending in 2025 includes about $1,870 going to Pentagon contractors, $770 to military personnel, $130 for nuclear weapons, and $57 for aid to foreign militaries. The spending does not account for the cost of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began in February 2026 and has already exceeded $11.3bn in the first six days alone.The IPS report highlights that these enormous sums for the Pentagon and militarism come with enormous costs to ordinary people – both in terms of the opportunity cost for other programs and the drain on their wallets. The analysis is based on an average 'tax filing unit' with a total taxable income of $104,000.Americans have filed their taxes this year amid growing public concern over cost of living, taxes, and government spending. A recent Fox News poll found that 70% of registered voters surveyed believe their taxes are too high, up 11 points from last year. The same poll also found that 29% of registered voters said they were concerned with 'how the government spends their tax dollars.'Beyond military spending, the report estimates that $2,492 of the average taxpayer's federal income tax went to Medicaid, $2,207 to Medicare, and $31 to substance abuse and mental health programs. The report also found that the average taxpayer paid about $396 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) and $607 for the Department of Education.The data has significant implications for the economy, as US inflation surged in March with prices up 0.9% compared with last month and 3.3% over the year, amid the US-Israel war with Iran. The University of Michigan's consumer confidence survey recorded a 10.7% drop to its lowest level on record.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a proud Jewish American, has spoken out against the inhumane actions of Israel and its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. He emphasizes that criticizing Israel's actions is not antisemitic, but rather a necessary stance against violations of international law.Sanders highlights the devastating impact of Israel's actions in Gaza, where over 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 170,000 wounded, mostly women, children, and the elderly. He also notes the destruction of almost all of Gaza's infrastructure, including water and sewer systems, and the demolition of every university and hundreds of schools.In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed 1,071 Palestinians, including 233 children, and demolished over 6,000 Palestinian homes. Sanders argues that these actions are not just extremist settler behavior, but government policy, with Netanyahu's security cabinet approving sweeping changes to the West Bank's legal status.Sanders announces that he will force a Senate vote on two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block arms sales to Israel, including $151.8m in 1,000-pound bombs and $295m in bulldozers used for demolishing homes. He hopes his colleagues will join him in supporting these resolutions, citing plummeting support for Israel among Americans, especially young people.

In the first three months of 2026, the United States’ six biggest banks collectively generated $47.4 bn in net profit, edging close to the $50 bn mark. The earnings surge reflects a sharp rise in trading activity as market participants scrambled for safety after the US‑Israeli offensive against Iran sparked a wave of volatility. Bank of America and Morgan Stanley led the pack with profit jumps of 17% and 30% respectively, while Goldman Sachs posted a 19% increase. JPMorgan Chase reported a 13% rise to $16.5 bn, Citi posted a striking 42% jump to $5.8 bn, and Wells Fargo added a modest 7% gain to reach $5.3 bn. Chief Executive David Solomon of Goldman Sachs described the results as a “very strong performance … even as market conditions became more volatile,” noting that the shift in client behavior toward cash‑preserving strategies boosted fee‑based trading revenue. Meanwhile, Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan cautioned that the board remains “watchful of evolving risks,” acknowledging the broader uncertainty surrounding the Middle‑East conflict. The conflict has disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing energy prices higher and feeding inflationary pressures. The International Monetary Fund responded by trimming its 2026 US growth forecast by 0.1 percentage points to 2.3%, warning that a deeper escalation could trigger a global recession, especially for net energy importers and developing economies. Higher borrowing costs and inflation expectations have dampened demand for loans and mortgages, potentially curbing future investment‑banking fees tied to mergers and acquisitions. Yet, the immediate impact on trading desks has been lucrative, prompting banks to return cash to shareholders. JPMorgan set a quarterly record with a $8.3 bn share‑buyback, Bank of America followed with $7.2 bn, Citi spent $6.3 bn—its biggest buyback in two decades—while Goldman, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley allocated $5 bn, $4 bn and $1.8 bn respectively. Analysts view the earnings surge as a short‑term windfall that may not be sustainable if the geopolitical tension persists. Prolonged conflict could suppress corporate earnings, reduce merger activity, and ultimately erode the trading‑driven profit model that has underpinned this quarter’s success.