Rubio also said Iran may decide to set up a tolling system for the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Updated at\u00a013.17 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3m ago<\/p>\n G7 to support US in opposing Iranian toll plan for strait of Hormuz, says Rubio<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 42m ago<\/p>\n US expects Iran operation to conclude in ‘weeks, not months’, says Rubio<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n US-Israeli strikes hit uranium processing plan, says Iranian atomic energy organisation<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n EU energy ministers to hold extraordinary videocall on Iran war<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4h ago<\/p>\n US can only confirm about a third of Iran\u2019s missile arsenal destroyed, sources say<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Iran guards say strait of Hormuz ‘closed’ to hostile shipping<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Israel to \u2018intensify\u2019 strikes on Iran to stop missile fire, warns defence minister<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 7h ago<\/p>\n More than over 370,000 children displaced in Lebanon and 121 killed, UNICEF says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n Europeans to press Rubio over Russian support for Iran at G7 meeting<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n Shipping to and from ports of US-Israeli allies still prohibited, says IRGC<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n US-Israeli strikes damage more than 100 museums and historic buildings, says Iran<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n Marco Rubio in France for G7 after Trump insults allies<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia urging US to keep up Iran attacks, intelligence source confirms<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n US troops using Persian Gulf citizens as human shields, says Iranian foreign minister<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Israeli military says it carried out ‘wide-scale’ strikes on Tehran<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11h ago<\/p>\n Interim summary<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11h ago<\/p>\n US and Iran plan to meet soon in Pakistan, says German minister<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n UAE pushing for international force to reopen strait of Hormuz \u2013 report<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 15h ago<\/p>\n Welcome summary<\/p>\n <\/a>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n G7 to support US in opposing Iranian toll plan for strait of Hormuz, says Rubio<\/p>\n Rubio also said that he had won support from his G7 colleagues to oppose Iran\u2019s attempts to impose a toll on ships crossing the strait of Hormuz, Agence France -Presse reports.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only is this illegal, it\u2019s unacceptable, it\u2019s dangerous to the world, and it\u2019s important that the world have a plan to confront it,\u201d Rubio said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that Iran<\/a> had not responded to a plan to end the war but had sent \u201cmessages\u201d showing an interest in diplomacy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t gotten it yet,\u201d Rubio told reporters in Paris after G7 talks.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had an exchange of messages and indications from the Iranian system \u2013 whatever\u2019s left of it \u2013 about a willingness to talk about certain things.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The US-Israeli war against Iran is unlikely to lead to \u201cregime change\u201d, German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday, as the month-long conflict showed no signs of abating.<\/p>\n \u201cIs regime change really the goal?\u201d he said at a forum in Frankfurt organised by the FAZ newspaper.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that\u2019s the goal, I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll achieve it. It\u2019s mostly gone wrong\u201d in past conflicts, he said, pointing to the Afghanistan war.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US expects Iran operation to conclude in ‘weeks, not months’, says Rubio<\/p>\n Secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Friday the US expects its operation in Iran<\/a> to conclude in \u201cweeks, not months\u201d after he met with G7 foreign ministers in France.<\/p>\n Rubio also said Iran may decide to set up a tolling system for the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting with partner countries in Cernay-la-Ville outside Paris, France, Friday, March 27, 2026. Photograph: Michel Euler\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.17 EDT<\/p>\n An Iran-linked hacker group has accessed an email account of FBI director Kash Patel and published personal photos and other material online, US media reported Friday.<\/p>\n CNN and other US media outlets, citing sources familiar with the breach, said the hack of Patel\u2019s email was claimed by the Handala Hack Team, a pro-Iranian hacktivist group.<\/p>\n According to CNN, the stolen emails include personal, business and travel correspondence and appear to date from 2011 to 2022, prior to Patel being named FBI director by President Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More than 300 US troops have been wounded since the start of the Iran<\/a> war on 28 February, US Central Command said on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the start of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 303 US service members have been wounded. The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 273 troops have returned to duty,\u201d US Navy captain Tim Hawkins said.<\/p>\n A US official who asked not to be identified told AFP that 10 troops remain seriously wounded.<\/p>\n A further 13 troops have been killed in the war, according to the latest figures, with seven killed in the Gulf and six in Iraq.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US-Israeli strikes hit uranium processing plan, says Iranian atomic energy organisation<\/p>\n US-Israeli strikes hit a uranium processing facility in central Iran on Friday, the country\u2019s atomic energy organisation said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe plant in Ardakan, located in Yazd Province, was targeted minutes ago in an attack by the American-Zionist enemy,\u201d it said on its Telegram channel, adding the attack \u201cdid not result in the release of any radioactive material.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n US-Israeli strikes hit a heavy water reactor in central Iran, Iranian media reported on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Khondab Heavy Water Complex was targeted in two stages by aggression from the American and Zionist enemy,\u201d said Fars news agency, citing Hassan Ghamari, an official in the central Markazi province.<\/p>\n Fars and other media said there were no casualties or radiation leak from the site.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Intelligence agencies in Europe believe Russia<\/a> is in the final stages of preparing to supply supply drones to Iran for use in its war with the US and Israel, according to a senior European official.<\/p>\n Russia has already been providing intelligence sharing with Tehran to help it target US forces in the region, the official said, but the upcoming delivery of explosive-laden drones would mark the first evidence of lethal support since the start of the war.<\/p>\n The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to provide details on the scale of any deliveries, but confirmed an article by the Financial Times<\/a> that said \u201cwestern intelligence reports\u201d found Russia was close to completing a phased shipment of drones, medicine and food to Iran.<\/p>\n Iranian and Russian officials began secretly discussing drone deliveries days after Israel<\/a> and the US attacked Tehran in late February, the news website said, citing officials briefed on the intelligence. It said drone deliveries could be completed by the middle of next week.<\/p>\n Responding to the claim of Moscow sending drones to Iran<\/a>, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying: \u201cThere are a lot of fakes going around right now. One thing is true \u2013 we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n Russia and Iran signed a strategic partnership agreement last year and Moscow has sent more than 13 tonnes of medicine to Iran through Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Iran would be \u201cwell advised\u201d to negotiate with the United States after almost a month of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic, Germany\u2019s foreign minister said Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Iranian regime would be well advised to enter into serious negotiations with the United States now,\u201d Johann Wadephul said, after meeting G7 counterparts in France, including US secretary of state Marco Rubio.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are initial indications that such talks should be taking place,\u201d he added, without giving further details.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU energy ministers to hold extraordinary videocall on Iran war<\/p>\n European Union countries\u2019 energy ministers will hold an extraordinary videocall on Tuesday, on the Iran<\/a> war\u2019s impact on European energy security of supply, a spokesperson for Cyprus\u2019 EU presidency said on Friday.<\/p>\n Cyprus holds the EU\u2019s rotating presidency and chairs meetings of EU countries.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A senior Iraqi Kurdistan official said the United States is not arming Iranian Kurdish opposition groups exiled in his autonomous region, reiterating his government opposes any involvement by these groups in the Middle East war.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have not seen any attempts by the United States, any branch of the United States, to arm Iranian opposition groups in Kurdistan,\u201d deputy prime minister of the autonomous northern region, Qubad Talabani, told AFP in an interview on Thursday.<\/p>\n Regional authorities told the groups it would be \u201cvery unwise\u201d for them to take part from Iraqi Kurdistan, he said, adding: \u201cWe would not allow that to happen from here\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Eduardo Porter<\/p>\n From Wall Street to the White House, the dish everyone\u2019s talking about this week is the Persian Taco. It\u2019s what\u2019s served when Trump chickens out in Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the early hours of Monday morning, witnessing oil prices surge, stock futures plummet and bond yields climb due to his threat to pummel Iran\u2019s civilian power infrastructure<\/a>, the president hurriedly walked it back, announcing he would put off the bombing because talks with Iran were actually going great. After the bombast and bloodshed, it was time for Taco<\/a> (Trump Always Chickens Out)<\/p>\n Donald Trump hosts Greek independence day celebration. Photograph: Will Oliver\/EPA<\/p>\n Read Eduardo Porter\u2019s analysis of the war\u2019s impact on the US economy here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.24 EDT<\/p>\n Airlines cancel more flights amid US-Israel Iran conflict <\/p>\n Global air travel remains severely disrupted, with many people still unable to fly as planned to destinations after the Iran<\/a> war forced the closure of major hubs, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n The low-cost airline Wizz Air has suspended flights to Israel until 29 March, and to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Jeddah from mainland European destinations until mid-September.<\/p>\n The price of jet fuel has doubled<\/a> since the start of the war, according to the International Air Transport Association,<\/p>\n United Airlines announced last Friday<\/a> it would have to cut flights due to the surging cost of fuel.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality is, jet fuel prices have more than doubled in the last three weeks. If prices stayed at this level, it would mean an extra $11bn in annual expense just for jet fuel,\u201d Scott Kirby, the CEO of United, said in a statement. \u201cFor perspective, in United\u2019s best year ever, we made less than $5bn.\u201d<\/p>\n The average airfare for most airlines \u2013 spanning both domestic and international trips, as well as tickets bought last-minute and in advance \u2013 was up compared with the same period last year, according to an analysis at Deutsche Bank.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US can only confirm about a third of Iran\u2019s missile arsenal destroyed, sources say<\/p>\n Reuters report that the United States can only determine with certainty that it has destroyed about a third of Iran\u2019s vast missile arsenal, according to US intelligence sources.<\/p>\n The status of around another third is less clear but bombings likely damaged, destroyed or buried those missiles in underground tunnels and bunkers, the sources said.<\/p>\n One of the sources said the intelligence was similar for Iran\u2019s drone capability, saying there was some degree of certainty about a third having been destroyed.<\/p>\n The assessment, shows that while most of Iran\u2019s missiles are either destroyed or inaccessible, Tehran still has a significant missile inventory and may be able to recover some buried or damaged missiles once fighting stops.<\/p>\n Donald Trump\u2019s had said on Thursday that Iran had \u201cvery few rockets left\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.00 EDT<\/p>\n Japan to boost coal-fired power as war causes energy turmoil<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s government plans to temporarily lift restrictions on coal-fired power plants as it seeks to ease an energy crunch caused by the Middle East war, AFP reports.<\/p>\n Officials presented the plan at a meeting of a panel of experts, who approved the proposal, the industry ministry said on its website.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the current situation in the Middle East affecting fuel prices, we believe that uncertainty regarding future LNG procurement is increasing,\u201d an industry ministry official said at the meeting, which was broadcast online.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think it will be necessary, by increasing the operation of coal-fired power plants, to… ensure the reliability of stable supply,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Power suppliers have previously been required to keep the operating rate of coal-fired thermal power stations that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide at or below 50 percent.<\/p>\n But the government now intends to allow the full operation of older, less efficient coal-fired plants, for a year from the new fiscal year starting April, according to the plan presented at the meeting.<\/p>\n It comes after Vietnam\u2019s (4.16<\/a>) trade ministry said this morning it had temporarily waived an environmental tax on fuel to cut soaring prices by more than a quarter.<\/p>\n Isogo Thermal Power Station, a coal-fired power plant operated by J-POWER. Photograph: Kazuhiro Nogi\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a> Rania Jaber told her husband that if God blessed them with a daughter, she would be named Narjis, Arabic for daffodil. After having twin boys, Jaber wanted a little girl she could dress up.<\/p>\n Jaber got her girl and made good on her promise: Narjis was born in 2020. Her mother was delighted to find that just like her namesake flower, her daughter\u2019s hair was light. Narjis seemed \u201cwise beyond her years\u201d, Jaber said, recalling how her daughter would comfort her whenever she would cry.<\/p>\n As Jaber rushed to pack her daughter and two sons into the car on 2 March as she fled Israeli bombs, Narjis comforted her once again. \u201cMama, you\u2019re my life. Don\u2019t cry, I love you so much,\u201d Narjis told her mother as stress began to overwhelm her.<\/p>\n It was one of the last things Jaber remembers her daughter saying. A few hours later, Israel dropped a bomb on their family home in Maifadoun, south Lebanon<\/a>, killing six-year-old Narjis and her aunt.<\/p>\n \u201cI keep replaying it. How our lives were torn apart. She was like a blossom. This girl \u2026 Oh my heart is breaking. I still can\u2019t believe my daughter is gone,\u201d Jaber said through sobs. The 34-year-old mother and her two 10-year-old sons, Abbas and Ali, were trapped under the rubble after the airstrike but survived with mild injuries.<\/p>\n Jaber has no shortage of pictures of her daughter: Narjis always has a wide smile, wearing the many dresses her parents bought for her, posing in her classroom with a papier-mache apple bearing a capital \u201cA\u201d held proudly in her hands. \u201cShe wanted to be a doctor,\u201d Jaber said.<\/p>\n![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3223.jpg\")
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting with partner countries in Cernay-la-Ville outside Paris, France, Friday, March 27, 2026. Photograph: Michel Euler\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Pjotr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pjotr_Sauer_.png\")
Pjotr Sauer<\/p>\n![\"William](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/William_Christou_v2.png\")
William Christou<\/p>\n