US-Israel-Iran War Live: Rubio Says US Expects Conflict to End in Weeks The Middle East conflict continues to escalate with no signs of de-escalation, as fresh strikes and retaliatory attacks unfold across Iran, Israel, and Lebanon. Israel has launched targeted strikes on key infrastructure within Iran, including sites critical to weapons production, while Iranian missiles have struck Israel and the UAE, killing at least two people in the latter. Israeli forces also claimed to have killed Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy, in a strike. Meanwhile, Israel intensified its operations in Lebanon, where smoke rose over Beirut following pre-dawn attacks that reportedly killed two people. On the diplomatic front, US President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s leaders are seeking a deal to end the conflict, though he warned Washington could escalate further if necessary. The administration has paused strikes on Iran’s energy sites until April 6 and proposed a 15-point peace plan, with Pakistan acting as a mediator. However, Iran has rejected the offer as “one-sided and unfair,” with its response to the proposal expected to be delivered later on Friday. The United Nations has taken steps to address the humanitarian fallout of the war, announcing the creation of a task force to ensure aid and agricultural supplies can pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative, modeled after previous UN operations in Gaza and Yemen, will involve representatives from the organization’s trade, maritime, and commerce agencies. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized the urgency of mitigating the conflict’s impact on regional populations and critical infrastructure.#us #iran #israel #un #lebanon
UN issues new climate warning as El Niño looms The United Nations' weather agency has issued a stark warning that the Earth's climate is more unbalanced than at any point in recorded history. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that the planet is absorbing significantly more heat energy than it can release, driven by emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. This growing "energy imbalance" has pushed ocean temperatures to record levels and accelerated the melting of ice caps. Scientists warn that an upcoming El Niño event could further intensify global warming, potentially leading to new temperature records. UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized the need for countries to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, calling it essential for climate, energy, and national security. The WMO highlighted that the past 11 years have been the warmest in over 150 years of records. In 2025, global average air temperatures were 1.43 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a benchmark set before widespread fossil fuel use. While a temporary cooling effect from the La Niña weather pattern reduced 2025's temperatures compared to 2024, the year still ranked among the three hottest on record. The WMO noted that the climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, with the most comprehensive evidence being the accumulation of excess heat energy in the Earth's systems. This imbalance, driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, has led to record-breaking glacier retreat and near-record low sea ice levels at both poles. Over 90% of the additional heat absorbed by the planet is stored in the oceans, which exacerbates marine ecosystem stress, intensifies storms, and contributes to rising sea levels.#un #world_meteorological_organization #celeste_saulo #antonio_guterres #john_kennedy
Women and girls are facing the most severe consequences of global water shortages and inadequate sanitation, according to a new UN report highlighting the disproportionate impact on their health, education, and food security. The findings underscore how systemic gender inequalities in water access are hindering the development of poorer nations and exacerbating existing challenges. The UN warns that women and girls are primarily responsible for collecting water in over 70% of rural households without access to piped water in developing regions. Globally, they spend 250 million hours daily on this task, a burden that deepens poverty and limits opportunities for education and economic advancement. Climate change is intensifying these issues, with a 1°C temperature rise reducing incomes in female-headed households by 34% more than in male-headed ones. Women’s weekly labor hours also increase by an average of 55 minutes compared to men’s, further straining their already overburdened roles. The report emphasizes that poor sanitation disproportionately affects women, with 10 million adolescent girls in 40 low-income countries missing school, work, or social activities between 2016 and 2022 due to lack of toilets. In 2024, over 2.1 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water, and 3.4 billion lacked safely managed sanitation. Women are also underrepresented in decisions about water rights tied to agricultural land, which are often linked to property ownership. In many countries, men hold twice the amount of land, while women face discrimination in land tenure rights. Data collection on gender disparities in water access remains inadequate, as many nations and institutions fail to track statistics broken down by sex.#un #unesco #world_vision #khaled_el_enany #alvaro_lario
US-Israel-Iran War Live: Israel Airstrike Targets Iran’s Basij Commander, Fate Unknown The Middle East conflict has intensified with fresh developments as Israel reported an airstrike targeting Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force. Initial reports suggest Soleimani was struck in an overnight attack inside Iran, though his condition remains unclear. The Basij, a key component of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, plays a central role in internal security and domestic operations. This strike marks another escalation in Israel’s ongoing campaign against senior Iranian military and security figures amid the broader regional conflict. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed that Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security chief and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. However, Iranian authorities have not confirmed Larijani’s death, and his fate remains uncertain. Earlier reports indicated he was targeted in overnight strikes, but the new claim, if verified, would represent a significant escalation in the conflict. Iranian state media also noted that a message from Larijani is expected to be released soon, signaling a potential public response to the attacks. The UN has raised concerns about Israel’s actions, with the head of a UN inquiry stating that an airstrike on Tehran’s Evin prison last June constituted a war crime. The attack killed at least 80 people, including civilians, and the UN warned that continued bombings risk further harm to detainees, including foreign nationals. Israel defended the strike as targeting intelligence operations and minimizing civilian casualties, but the UN emphasized the need to avoid further repression of detainees. Global tensions have also heightened as the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point.#iran #israel #strait_of_hormuz #un #basij
What we know on the 12th day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered its 12th day marked by escalating violence, humanitarian crises, and geopolitical tensions. Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, launched a coordinated attack on Israel, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claiming to have conducted five hours of sustained fire targeting over 50 locations across the country. In response, Israel launched “large-scale” strikes in Lebanon, reportedly targeting Hezbollah positions after the militant group fired dozens of rockets into Israeli territory. The attacks have intensified the already volatile situation, with reports of widespread destruction, civilian casualties, and growing concerns over the environmental and economic fallout. The humanitarian toll continues to rise, with Iran accusing the US and Israel of deliberately targeting civilians. According to Iran’s UN ambassador, over 1,300 people have been killed since the conflict began, while Lebanese authorities reported at least 634 deaths from Israeli strikes. The US military confirmed seven service members were killed and 140 others wounded in the conflict. Meanwhile, the United Nations warned of a worsening crisis, citing toxic black rain, mass displacement, and disrupted supply chains for essential goods. The war has also drawn international attention to critical infrastructure and global energy routes. In the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil trade, at least three vessels flagged by Japan, Thailand, and the Marshall Islands were damaged by projectiles. Iran claimed responsibility for hitting a Thai-flagged ship and a Liberian vessel, though the US and UK disputed the claims.#us #iran #strait_of_hormuz #hezbollah #un
What we know on the 11th day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran Strikes in the Middle East have continued for a second week, with US President Trump offering conflicting statements about the duration of the conflict. Meanwhile, Iran has signaled its readiness for a prolonged battle. The humanitarian crisis has worsened, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and resulting in over 1,700 deaths across the region. The war has also triggered the largest oil disruption in history, raising concerns even within the Trump administration. Key developments on day 11 include the ongoing fallout from a strike on an Iranian girls’ school that killed at least 168 children. Iranian state media reported the attack, while Trump claimed other nations could have targeted the school, falsely asserting that Iran possesses Tomahawk missiles. Footage emerged suggesting a US missile was directed at an Iranian naval base near the school. The oil crisis has intensified, with an estimated 20% of global oil supply disrupted. Pakistan has implemented strict austerity measures, South Korea is introducing its first fuel price cap in nearly three decades, and G7 ministers convened to discuss releasing strategic oil reserves. Trump hinted at waiving certain oil-related sanctions but did not specify which, and he claimed the war would eventually lower oil prices. The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point, with Tehran and Washington exchanging threats over the critical waterway, which has been closed since the conflict began. Trump attempted to reassure tanker operators refusing to transit the strait, warning of harsher actions if Iran blocked oil flow. Iran responded by stating its armed forces were “awaiting” US naval vessels in the area.#iran #strait_of_hormuz #un #iranian_women_s_soccer_team #us_president_trump
While UN issues mixed signals, Witkoff exposes Tehran’s nuclear evasion ‘pride’ The U.N. nuclear agency’s recent statements have failed to address critical concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, according to U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. During an interview on Fox News, Witkoff revealed that Iranian negotiators openly expressed pride in evading international oversight protocols to advance their nuclear capabilities. The remarks, which highlight Iran’s defiance of global monitoring efforts, have drawn renewed scrutiny amid escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Witkoff detailed the challenges of nuclear negotiations, emphasizing that Iran’s refusal to fully cooperate with inspections has undermined trust in the process. He cited specific instances where Iranian officials boasted about bypassing safeguards to achieve weapons-grade uranium enrichment, a development that has raised alarms about the country’s nuclear ambitions. Despite these revelations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has maintained that there is no conclusive evidence of Iran developing a nuclear weapon, a stance that Witkoff described as insufficient given the recent intelligence. The IAEA director general, Rafael Grossi, recently tweeted that “there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb,” a claim that has been met with skepticism by U.S. officials. Fox News Digital sought clarification from the IAEA on how it could assess Iran’s nuclear activities without direct access to classified intelligence. The agency’s response, while vague, has not resolved the broader concerns about Iran’s compliance with international agreements. As the U.S. and Israel intensify military operations against Iran, the nuclear issue remains a central point of contention.#iran #un #steve_witkoff #iaea #rafael_grossi
