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Several Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, reported missile and drone activity targeting their airspace on Sunday, amid rising regional tensions. Kuwait’s defence ministry said it detected 14 ballistic missiles and 12 drones entering its airspace. Some of the projectiles struck a military camp, injuring 10 armed forces personnel. In Qatar, the defence ministry said its air defence systems identified and intercepted several drones launched from Iran, preventing any damage. Earlier, the UAE said its air defence systems were actively responding to incoming threats after 16 ballistic missiles and 42 drones were launched from Iran toward its territory. Authorities in the three countries said their defence systems were able to intercept most of the threats, though the incidents underline growing security concerns in the region. #From BBC

Pakistan has expressed willingness to host potential talks between Iran and the United States, saying both sides have shown confidence in Islamabad’s role as a facilitator. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would be “honoured” to arrange and support meaningful dialogue between Tehran and Washington in the coming days. However, he did not confirm whether either country has formally agreed to participate. Dar made the remarks after the first day of meetings in Islamabad involving the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt. He said the discussions focused on ways to achieve an early and lasting end to ongoing regional conflicts, and thanked the participating countries for backing Pakistan’s peace efforts. The minister also said he spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, both of whom expressed support for the initiative. Separately, following a meeting between Pakistan’s prime minister and Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Islamabad issued a statement reaffirming its strong ties with Riyadh, saying Pakistan would “stand shoulder to shoulder” with the kingdom and appreciated what it described as Saudi Arabia’s “remarkable restraint.” #From BBC

At least 14 people, including five children and two women, were killed in an attack by Sudanese paramilitary forces and allied rebels in the central Kordofan region, a medical group said on Sunday. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with fighters from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, launched a major assault on Saturday on Dilling, the capital of South Kordofan. Sudan’s military said it repelled the attack after recently breaking an RSF siege on the শহর. According to the Sudan Doctors Network, the attackers shelled residential areas during the offensive, which lasted several hours and left at least 23 others injured, including seven children. Dilling had endured severe shortages resembling famine conditions during more than two years under RSF siege, when supply routes were cut and the area was frequently bombed. The military lifted the siege earlier this year. The doctors’ group warned the situation could deteriorate further, drawing parallels with the Darfur city of El-Fasher, where intense violence erupted after an RSF offensive in October. A UN-commissioned report said the attack there bore signs consistent with genocide. The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 following a power struggle between the military and the RSF, which escalated into full-scale fighting in the capital Khartoum. According to UN estimates, more than 40,000 people have been killed, though aid agencies believe the actual toll could be significantly higher. Recent clashes have been concentrated in Darfur and Kordofan, where frequent drone strikes have caused heavy civilian casualties. The UN Human Rights Office said more than 500 civilians have been killed in drone attacks this year alone, as of mid-March. The war has been marked by widespread abuses, including mass killings and sexual violence, which are under investigation by the International Criminal Court as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A top Iranian official warned the U.S. against a ground invasion, saying its troops would be set “on fire,” as regional diplomats met Sunday in Pakistan in hopes of opening direct U.S.-Iran talks and ending the monthlong war. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” according to Iranian state media. He also dismissed the talks as a cover after some 2,500 U.S. Marines trained in amphibious landings arrived in the Middle East. The war has threatened global supplies of oil, natural gas and fertilizer and disrupted air travel. Iran’s grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and prices, and now the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels ' entry into the war could threaten shipping on another crucial waterway, the Bab el-Mandeb strait to the Red Sea. “We don’t know at what moment our homes could be targeted,” said Razzak Saghir al-Mousawi, 71, describing relentless airstrikes as Iranians crossing into Iraq urged the United States to end the war. “I am definitely afraid.” More than 3,000 people have been killed in the war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that triggered Iranian attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf Arab states. Meanwhile, Israel has invaded Lebanon while targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. The war continues on the digital front as well. Pakistan hosts ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt Pakistan said the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt met in Islamabad without U.S. or Israeli participation, days after the U.S. offered Iran a 15-point “action list” as a framework for a possible peace deal. The ministers are expected to meet again Monday. Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty said the meetings are aimed at opening a “direct dialogue” between the U.S. and Iran, which have largely communicated through mediators. Both this war and last year's 12-day war began during rounds of indirect talks. Iranian officials have rejected the U.S. framework and publicly dismissed the idea of negotiating under pressure. But Press TV, the English-language arm of Iran’s state broadcaster, reported last week that Tehran had drafted its own five-point proposal that reportedly called for a halt to killing Iranian officials, guarantees against future attacks, reparations and Iran’s “exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.” Iran has eased some restrictions on commercial ships in the strait, agreeing late Saturday to allow 20 more Pakistani-flagged vessels to pass through. It "sends a clear signal that Iran remains open for business with the world, provided the United States abandons coercion,” said Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Iran. An adviser to the United Arab Emirates, Anwar Gargash, called for any settlement to the war to include “clear guarantees” that Iranian attacks on neighbors will not be repeated. Gargash said Iran's government has become “the main threat” to Persian Gulf security and called for compensation for attacks on civilian infrastructure. Iran threatens retaliatory strikes on Israeli and US universities Iran on Sunday warned of escalation after Israeli airstrikes hit several universities, including ones that Israel claimed were used for nuclear research and development. Concerns over Iran's nuclear program are at the heart of tensions. The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned that Iran would consider Israeli universities and branches of U.S. universities in the region “legitimate targets” unless offered safety assurances for Iranian universities, state media reported. U.S. colleges have campuses in Qatar and the UAE, including Georgetown, New York and Northwestern universities. “If the U.S. government wants its universities in the region spared, it should condemn the bombardment" of Iranian universities by midday Monday, the Guard said in a statement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Saturday that dozens of universities and research centers have been hit, among them the Iran University of Science and Technology and Isfahan University of Technology. Both sides in the war have threatened to attack civilian facilities, which critics have warned could be a war crime. Death toll continues to climb Iranian authorities say more than 1,900 people have been killed in the Islamic Republic, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel. In Lebanon, officials said more than 1,100 people have been killed. In Iraq, where Iranian-supported militia groups have entered the conflict, 80 members of the security forces have died. In Gulf states, 20 people have been killed. Four have been killed in the occupied West Bank.  

At least 250 students and teachers have been killed and around 600 educational institutions targeted since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, an official said. Hossein Sadeghi, head of the Information and Public Relations Center at Iran’s Education Ministry, told IRNA that another 184 students and teachers were injured in the attacks. In the capital Tehran, 16 students and five teachers lost their lives, while eight students and five educators were wounded, he added. Iran ready to confront possible arrival of US troops: Parliament Speaker Sadeghi also said that about 200 administrative, cultural and educational facilities have been damaged since February 28. Source- Al Jazeera

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine designed for weapons capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, describing it as a major step forward in strengthening the country’s strategic military capabilities, state media reported Sunday. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim observed a ground jet test of an engine built with composite carbon fiber material. The report said the engine produced a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, up from around 1,970 kilonewtons recorded in a similar test in September. However, the agency did not specify the time or location of the test. Teen daughter Kim Ju Ae set to succeed Kim Jong Un in North Korea The development aligns with Pyongyang’s goal of building more mobile and less detectable missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. Solid-fuel missiles are easier to transport and conceal compared to liquid-fuel systems, which require fueling before launch. KCNA said the test is part of a five-year weapons program aimed at upgrading “strategic strike means,” referring to nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Kim called the test significant for elevating the country’s military strength. Some experts, including Lee Choon Geun, questioned the claim, noting missing technical details such as combustion time, suggesting possible exaggeration. Analysts say North Korea still faces challenges in developing reliable ICBMs, despite years of testing and claims of progress.

Disney has opened its much-anticipated “World of Frozen” attraction at Disneyland Paris, marking a major milestone in the company’s multi-billion-euro expansion and the first major international appearance of its new chief executive. The immersive themed land, inspired by the popular animated franchise, opened to visitors on Sunday as part of a €2 billion ($2.18 billion) redevelopment project at the resort. The expansion also includes renaming Walt Disney Studios Park to Disney Adventure World, as part of broader efforts to revamp the Paris complex. The inaugural programme several global celebrities were in attendance. The development is the largest in the 34-year history of Disneyland Paris and forms part of Disney’s almost $60 billion global investment across its parks, resorts and cruise businesses. New CEO Josh D’Amaro, who assumed office on March 18, took center stage at the event, highlighting the importance of storytelling across Disney’s operations. “Storytelling remains at the heart of everything we do,” he told the audience, describing the new attraction as a “transformational moment” for the company. The parks division — long a key revenue driver — accounted for more than half of Disney’s segment operating income last year, helping propel D’Amaro to the top leadership role. French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the resort ahead of the opening, described Disneyland Paris as Europe’s leading tourist destination and a major contributor to the national economy. He said the latest expansion would create around 1,000 new jobs, adding to the more than 20,000 people already employed at the resort. Once criticized at its launch in 1992 as “Euro Disney,” the park has since evolved into a major economic asset, attracting hundreds of millions of visitors over the decades. The new “Frozen” land recreates the fictional kingdom of Arendelle, featuring themed rides, character experiences and a Scandinavian-style village built around a central lagoon. Among the highlights is a boat ride experience with advanced animatronics, as well as interactive attractions and live entertainment shows. The revamped park will also feature new dining options, a large central lake, nighttime drone shows and additional themed areas, including a planned “Lion King” land currently under construction. Disney said more than 90 percent of the park’s attractions will be redesigned as part of the transformation, with the overall مساحة expected to nearly double upon completion. The opening underscores Disney’s continued focus on its parks business, which remains one of its most stable sources of revenue despite recent shifts in its streaming operations.  

Egypt has instructed shops, restaurants and cafés to close earlier than usual as part of temporary measures to tackle rising energy costs driven by the ongoing Iran war. Under the directive, retail outlets and dining establishments must shut by 9:00pm local time each day for a month starting Saturday officials said. The government described the move as “exceptional measures” aimed at easing pressure on energy consumption. Additional steps include dimming street lighting and billboard advertisements, as well as introducing one day of remote work per week in April for many employees. Egypt has been significantly affected by the Middle East conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The country’s dependence on imported fuel has made it particularly vulnerable to supply shocks. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Saturday that Egypt’s fuel import bill had surged to $2.5 billion in March, more than double the figure recorded in January. Hotels and tourist attractions will be exempt from the restrictions, as tourism accounts for roughly 10 percent of the country’s economy. However, some hotels have procured generators to cope with possible power outages and will keep their restaurants open for guests. Essential services, including hospitals, schools and factories, will also remain outside the scope of the work-from-home directive. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled following Iranian threats targeting vessels, disrupting a route that typically carries around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply. In response to the crisis, Egypt has already increased fuel prices and public transport fares. The government is also slowing down large energy-intensive projects and cutting fuel allocations for state vehicles to manage public spending. Source BBC  

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said Iranian forces are fully prepared to confront any arrival of US troops. Speaking to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Ghalibaf criticized US President Donald Trump for expressing interest in negotiations while allegedly planning a ground offensive against Iran, reports Al Jazeera. “The enemy is publicly talking about negotiations while secretly preparing for a ground attack,” he said, warning that Iranian forces are ready to confront US soldiers if they enter the country. Earlier, US media reported that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks-long ground operations in Iran. The report followed an announcement by the US military that around 3,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have been deployed to the Middle East.

US Senator Bernie Sanders on Saturday criticized the ongoing war in Iran as a “violation of international law” while addressing the flagship “No Kings” rally in St. Paul, Minnesota. Speaking to thousands of protesters, Sanders pledged to oppose President Donald Trump’s request for an additional $200 billion in military spending for the US-Israeli war in Iran, reports Al Jazeera. “Let us be honest. The American people were lied to about the war in Vietnam, we were lied to about the war in Iraq, and we are being lied to today about the war in Iran,” Sanders said. Thousands join ‘No Kings’ rallies against Iran war, Trump across US, Europe The progressive Democrat reminded the crowd that Trump had campaigned on a promise to end “forever wars.” “One sovereign nation cannot simply go about attacking another sovereign nation for any reason it chooses,” he added. The remarks come amid the US midterm election season, where Trump’s Republican Party faces voter scrutiny over foreign policy and military engagement.