International

• The Taliban government announced restrictions on international health NGOs operating in Afghanistan on Monday, citing concerns over 'political interference' and threatening revocation of licenses for non-compliant organizations. • Medical organizations warned that the restrictions would devastate maternal and pediatric health services, particularly in rural areas where international agencies provide 70 percent of healthcare capacity. • The U.S. State Department condemned the move as undermining humanitarian efforts and expressed concern for vulnerable populations, with officials exploring alternative delivery mechanisms for critical medical assistance.

• The International Criminal Court announced Friday the issuance of an arrest warrant for General Ahmed Hassan al-Madibbo, a prominent Sudan Armed Forces commander, citing evidence of war crimes including extrajudicial killings and enforced displacement in Darfur since April 2023. • ICC prosecutors presented evidence of at least 127 documented extrajudicial executions of civilians and systematic attacks on refugee camps housing over 2 million displaced persons, with al-Madibbo alleged to have direct command responsibility. • Sudan's military government rejected the warrant and accused the ICC of bias toward the Rapid Support Forces militia; the announcement intensified international pressure on Khartoum to cooperate with the court's investigations.

• A multiyear international campaign is underway to repair damage to childhood immunization efforts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. • The initiative focuses on restoring vaccination rates that declined during the pandemic period across multiple countries. • Public health experts view this effort as critical to preventing resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in vulnerable pediatric populations.

• Power Solutions International reduced its debt-to-equity ratio from 2,140% to 54.6% over five years, signaling substantial improvement in financial health. • The company achieved 64.5% earnings growth last year, outpacing the electrical industry average of 21.4%. • Despite recent share price volatility, the company's financial restructuring and strong earnings demonstrate improved operational performance.

Exclusive: Officials warn department will lose access to database of 26,000 verified cases by cutting fundingThe Foreign Office unit tracking potential breaches of international law by Israel in Gaza and more recently Lebanon has been closed because of cuts within the department, the Guardian can reveal.The decision to shut the international humanitarian law cell follows a review by Olly Robbins, the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office dismissed last week by the prime minister over the Peter Mandelson scandal. Continue reading...

• Mexican authorities reported 847 homicides in the past 30 days, the highest monthly toll in 18 months, as rival drug trafficking organizations battle for control of U.S. border crossing routes, particularly in Sinaloa and Tamaulipas states. • The U.S. DEA warned of expanded methamphetamine trafficking networks moving through Central America, with seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border up 38% compared to last year. • Mexico's security ministry announced deployment of additional federal police units to three border states and pledged cooperation with U.S. law enforcement agencies to dismantle trafficking networks.

• Venezuela's opposition coalition announced victory in April 10 municipal elections, claiming to have won majorities in 200+ municipalities, though the National Electoral Council has delayed official results release. • International election observers from the Carter Center and UN raised concerns about transparency and irregularities in voting procedures, with some polling stations reporting technical malfunctions. • The disputed results threaten to deepen political crisis in the oil-rich nation already facing severe economic collapse and humanitarian crisis, with potential for renewed street protests and international diplomatic intervention.

• Myanmar's military government arrested 47 pro-democracy activists and journalists on April 12 in what human rights organizations describe as the largest crackdown since the 2021 coup, with detainees held without access to legal representation. • The arrests targeted members of underground resistance networks and independent media outlets, with the junta accusing them of terrorism and sedition charges that carry potential death penalties. • The United Nations Human Rights Council condemned the escalation, calling for international sanctions on military leaders, while ASEAN member states expressed concern over regional stability impacts.

• The Philippines filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on April 9, accusing China of violating international law through aggressive maritime activities, naval blockades, and environmental damage in the disputed South China Sea. • Manila cited repeated incidents including Chinese coast guard interference with Philippine resupply missions, damage to coral reefs, and construction of artificial islands as evidence of systematic violations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. • The complaint escalates regional tensions and seeks ICJ intervention to establish binding legal precedent, with hearings expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.

Murder charge laid after missing woman’s body discovered in Victorian town of Little River, near Melbourne A man is set to face court following his arrest as he tried to board an overseas flight after allegedly murdering a woman.The 67-year-old man was arrested at Melbourne International Airport on Friday afternoon before he stepped onto an overseas-bound plane, Victoria police said. Continue reading...

• Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International released coordinated reports on Thursday documenting alleged extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and torture by Bangladeshi security forces during recent political unrest, affecting approximately 340 individuals since January 2026. • The organizations called for immediate international investigations and threatened to recommend sanctions if Bangladesh fails to establish independent accountability mechanisms within 60 days. • The US State Department issued a statement expressing "deep concern" and indicated potential implications for bilateral aid flows and military cooperation, affecting approximately $89 million in annual assistance.

EU, Spain and Germany, as well as rights groups, condemn law to execute Palestinian convicted terroristsA vote in the Israeli Knesset approving a bill sanctioning the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks, but not Jewish extremists accused of similar crimes, has been greeted with widespread international condemnation.“The death penalty bill in Israel is very concerning to us in the EU,” the EU spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said in Brussels. “This is a clear step backwards – the introduction of the death penalty, together with the discriminatory nature of the law. Continue reading...

• Kosovo approved a plan to send soldiers to the Gaza Strip as part of a US-backed international security force, joining Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, and Albania in making similar commitments. • The deployment represents an expansion of the international coalition participating in the Middle East security operation. • Kosovo's participation demonstrates growing international involvement in establishing security frameworks in the Gaza region.

• The United States national soccer team faces Portugal in an international friendly match scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on March 31. • The match is being broadcast on FS1 as part of the men's international soccer friendlies schedule. • This fixture provides both teams with preparation opportunities ahead of upcoming competitive tournaments and qualifiers.

Human rights group says US is facing an ‘emergency’ICE director said agency will play ‘key part’ at tournamentAmnesty International has warned that the World Cup, spread across three North American countries, risks becoming a “stage for repression”. The human rights organisation published a report on Monday – “Humanity Must Win” – calling on Fifa and the host countries, the US, Canada and Mexico, to take urgent action to protect fans, players and other communities.Fifa has promised a tournament where everyone “feels safe, included and free to exercise their rights”. But Amnesty said that pledge sat in “stark contrast” to conditions in all three host nations, especially the US, which hosts three-quarters of the 104 matches. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: Th​is new war has exposed widening fractures between Israel and its allies, ​and the country finds itself increasingly out of step with global opinionGood morning. Israel may be the only country in the world where there is overwhelming public support for the conflict in Iran. Despite its impact on everyday life in the country – at least 15 people have been killed and hundreds more injured by Iranian missiles since the war started in February, and school closures and missile warnings remain routine – polling puts support for the war at more than 90% among Jewish Israelis.The contrast with the rest of the world is stark. Nearly a month into the fighting, polling shows that 60% of the US public oppose the war with Iran, and just one in four backed the initial strikes. In the Gulf, Europe and Asia, the conflict is widely unpopular, as severe economic consequences already begin to bite.Middle East crisis | Iran dismissed a US ceasefire proposal on Wednesday and countered with a negotiation plan of its own as intermediaries sought to keep diplomatic channels between the warring countries open.Media | Matt Brittin, Google’s former top executive in Europe, has been named the BBC’s next director general. Brittin will replace Tim Davie at a crucial time for the corporation.UK politics | Political donations from British citizens living abroad are to be capped at £100,000 a year, in a move that is likely to limit further funding from Reform UK’s Thailand-based mega-donor, Christopher Harborne.UK news | The former justice minister Crispin Blunt has been fined £1,200 for possessing illegal drugs after he told a court he entered the world of chemsex parties to help inform government policy.Housing | People who lost their homes when a tower block in Dagenham burned down say they are being made to pay for the building’s fire safety works after the government demanded its money back. Continue reading...

• Woman’s Hospital in Louisiana launched as the first US site in Baymatob's Oli Study, enrolling over 130 patients to test a wearable sensor for early postpartum hemorrhage detection during labor. • The trial aims to enroll 1000 women across five US sites including University of Colorado, Columbia University, Ohio State, and UPMC Magee-Women’s, with FDA clearance submission planned by year-end. • Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable maternal death globally; pilot results showed promise for the Oli device.

Defence chiefs have been discussing how to unblock the conduit for about a fifth of the world’s oil suppliesThe UK has offered to host an international security summit to draw up a “viable, collective plan” to reopen the strait of Hormuz as economic fallout from the Iran conflict continues.Defence chiefs have been discussing how they could unblock the vital shipping lane, through which about 20% of global oil supplies usually pass, amid the Middle East crisis unleashed by the US and Israel. Continue reading...

Taith programme, set up after UK’s post-Brexit withdrawal from Erasmus+, faces uncertain future over fundingA “life-changing” international learning programme set up in Wales after Brexit is at risk of being closed down.Taith, which means “journey” in Welsh/Cymraeg, was established by the Senedd in 2022 after the UK pulled out of the Erasmus+ student exchange programme. Its reach is much wider: many participants get involved through schools, youth groups or adult education centres, and nearly half come from underrepresented backgrounds. Data suggests Taith has already funded approximately twice as many projects in Wales as Erasmus+ did, working with less money. Continue reading...

• The Varieties of Democracy Institute at Sweden's Gothenburg University found that Trump's second term is characterized by swift concentration of executive power, suppression of dissent, and targeting of civil rights at a rate comparable to some coups d'état. • The Trump administration is flouting Congress and the judiciary, attacking courts while the Department of Homeland Security openly violates dozens of judicial orders, and has unilaterally reallocated federal funding including a $10 billion gift to the "Board of Peace" without congressional approval. • Republican-controlled Congress has "abdicated its constitutional role" by ceding legislative, fiscal, and oversight powers to the executive branch during 2025, while the administration undoes civil rights achievements and suppresses left-wing dissent.

• Amnesty International investigation concludes the U.S. conducted an airstrike on an Iranian school, killing about 170 people, mostly children, amid escalating U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran. • The report highlights the attack as part of broader military actions that have injured at least 200 U.S. troops and killed 13 service members since the conflict began over two weeks ago. • Pentagon deploys thousands more U.S. Marines and warships to the Middle East, signaling intensified U.S. involvement in the region.

• President Trump is attempting to garner international support to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway where oil transport has halted since the US and Israel began their war with Iran on day 17 of the conflict. • Trump claimed the US received "some positive response" from countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, though Australia and Japan have stated they will not send warships; the UK said it is discussing options while China called for an immediate end to hostilities. • The blockade has caused oil prices to rise significantly, with the Strait of Hormuz responsible for transporting approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply; Trump warned NATO faces a "very bad" future if US allies fail to assist in reopening the shipping lane.

• President Trump is threatening to delay his summit with China's President Xi Jinping unless Beijing helps secure the Strait of Hormuz, with US and Chinese trade negotiators meeting in Paris to discuss the issue. • The conflict has entered its third week with Operation Epic Fury killing more than 1,300 people in Iran and 13 US service members dead, while Gulf states report new missile and drone attacks on Sunday after Iran threatened to expand its military campaign. • Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other nations to send warships to keep the Strait open and safe, warning the US will "remember" countries that don't help. • China has shown preliminary goodwill by signaling openness to purchase additional US agricultural products including poultry, beef, and non-soybean crops beyond previously pledged soybean purchases.

Health service in England has saved more than £14bn hiring from overseas, report says, as doubt is cast on aim to reduce international recruitment to 10%Ministers’ plans to cut the international workforce within NHS England appear overambitious, MPs have said, as a report reveals the health service saved more than £14bn by recruiting doctors, nurses and midwives from overseas.Many of the countries recruited from were struggling with staff shortages, and the UK had a moral duty to offer support, rather than simply extracting what it needed, the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on global health and security found. Continue reading...

• A rocket attack struck Baghdad International Airport on Sunday, which houses a US diplomatic facility, wounding five people according to Iraqi authorities. • The attack represents continued escalation in regional tensions amid the broader US-Israeli conflict with Iran. • The incident underscores the expanding scope of the Middle East crisis beyond direct US-Iran military engagement into broader attacks on US diplomatic and military infrastructure in Iraq.

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is appearing on major U.S. news programs to articulate Iran's position as the conflict enters its third week with no immediate end in sight. • The Iranian government continues to emphasize its blockade strategy and threats against maritime commerce, signaling determination to sustain pressure despite U.S. military strikes. • International diplomatic channels remain active, with discussions ongoing about potential paths to de-escalation and conflict resolution involving multiple stakeholders.

Unofficial body co-chaired by ex-Labour leader says Britain failed to meet its duty to seek to prevent a genocideThe Labour government has been complicit in crimes committed by Israel in Gaza and in the desecration of international law, according to an unoffical tribunal on Gaza chaired by the former party leader Jeremy Corbyn and two specialists in international law.The tribunal’s findings to be published on Monday are likely to be cited in May’s local elections, in which Labour faces a rearguard action to beat off challenges from the Greens and Your Party, in part driven by anger that the government has not done enough to back the Palestinian cause. Continue reading...

Philip Morris International stock advanced 1.8% on March 13, 2026, as consumer goods joined financials and health care in outperforming during afternoon trading. With 61% of S&P 500 stocks rising, staples provided stability. This trend highlights shift to defensives amid uncertainty. Earnings season will test sector durability.