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Iranian authorities have publicly asserted that the nation’s universities are facing systematic targeting, a claim that underscores growing tensions over academic autonomy and possible foreign influence.According to the statements, the alleged pressure on higher‑education institutions is intended to undermine Iran’s scientific and educational development. Officials argue that such actions could have broader implications for the country’s research capabilities and its position in regional knowledge networks.While the specifics of the alleged targeting remain unclear, the accusations highlight a broader narrative of perceived external threats to Iran’s domestic sectors. The government’s response suggests a readiness to defend its academic infrastructure against what it describes as hostile maneuvers.Observers note that any sustained pressure on universities could affect student enrollment, research funding, and international collaborations, potentially reshaping Iran’s educational landscape.

The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran is now spilling onto academic grounds. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) publicly warned U.S. universities in nearby nations following weekend attacks on two Iranian campuses.According to Tehran‑based sources, at least 21 Iranian universities have sustained damage since the war erupted. The targeting of educational institutions marks a troubling escalation, raising questions about the strategic value of universities in modern warfare.In a recent podcast episode, Setareh Sadeqi, an assistant professor at the University of Tehran, discusses the motivations behind these strikes and the broader implications for Iran’s higher‑education sector. The program, produced by Al Jazeera’s AJ E Podcasts team, also explores how the “war on Iran” is extending beyond traditional battlefields into classrooms and research labs.Key takeaways include the IRGC’s threat to retaliate against U.S. institutions, the potential impact on international academic collaborations, and the symbolic message that disrupting knowledge hubs can weaken a nation’s resilience.Listeners can follow the discussion on X, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube via @AJEPodcasts.

The countdown at Kennedy Space Center is in its final stages for the Artemis II launch, the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya confirmed after a Monday management meeting that the mission is cleared for a Wednesday liftoff. Launch window: A two‑hour window opens at 6:24 pm (22:24 GMT) on Wednesday, with daily two‑hour windows remaining available until April 6. The launch can proceed only when the moon’s position, orbital trajectories, weather, and Earth’s rotation align safely. Weather outlook: Forecasts show an 80 % chance of favorable conditions, though cloud cover and high winds remain the primary concerns. The mission has already endured two major setbacks. In early February a liquid‑hydrogen leak forced a scrub, and in early March a helium‑flow issue in the upper stage halted a second attempt. NASA will stream the launch live on YouTube, where viewers can follow the vehicle from rollout to liftoff. Artemis programme overview: Artemis is NASA’s multidecade effort to return humans to the Moon, establish a sustainable presence near the lunar south pole, and eventually enable crewed missions to Mars. The program comprises five missions (Artemis I‑V). Artemis I, an uncrewed test in 2022, validated the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft, providing critical data for the current flight. Mission profile: Artemis II will not land; instead, its four‑person crew will perform a lunar flyby, looping around the far side before returning to Earth. The flight will test Orion’s life‑support, navigation, communications, and overall performance in deep space—conditions that cannot be fully replicated on the ground. Crew members: Reid Wiseman (Commander, 50) – veteran NASA astronaut and former ISS commander. Victor Glover (Pilot, 49) – U.S. Navy aviator, first Black astronaut assigned to a lunar mission, previously flew on SpaceX Crew‑1. Christina Koch (Mission Specialist, 47) – holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days) and has extensive EVA experience. Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist, 50) – Canada’s first astronaut slated for a lunar mission, highlighting international collaboration. During the ten‑day journey the crew will evaluate spacecraft systems, conduct radiation and fire‑response drills, perform a suit‑pressurisation test, and carry out medical and scientific experiments while observing the lunar surface. Strategic importance: Artemis II is a stepping stone toward Artemis III (planned for 2027), which will test integrated operations with commercial landers, followed by Artemis IV (early 2028) – the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 – and Artemis V (late 2028) aimed at establishing a lunar base. The program also reinforces U.S. leadership in space amid rising competition, notably from China.

A Russian-flagged tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, has arrived in Cuba with a cargo of 730,000 barrels of oil, marking the first oil tanker to reach the island in three months. The vessel, under US sanctions, was permitted to deliver fuel for humanitarian reasons.The tanker docked in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba's largest supertanker and fuel storage port, on Tuesday. Much of the nearby city and the majority of Cuba were without power when the tanker arrived. Cuba has been experiencing an energy crisis, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel stating that the country has not received an oil tanker in three months.The fuel shipment is expected to provide breathing room for Cuba's communist-run government amid growing pressure from the US. The crude on board will take days to process domestically and turn into motor fuel and refined products. The ship is carrying Russian Urals, a medium sour crude, suitable for Cuba's ageing refineries.Cuba produces only 40 percent of its required fuel and relies on imports to sustain its energy grid. Experts estimate that the anticipated shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to meet Cuba's daily demand for nine or 10 days.The arrival of the tanker has been welcomed by Cubans, including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, who expressed gratitude to the Russian government and people for their support. The energy crisis in Cuba has led to long blackouts and severe shortages of food and medicine.

Closing the Strait of Hormuz has choked a vital artery that carries roughly one‑fifth of the world’s crude oil and LNG, sending energy prices soaring and unsettling global trade. Even if the waterway reopens tomorrow, analysts say the ripple effects will endure for months. Nils Haupt, senior director of corporate communications at German carrier Hapag‑Lloyd, told Al Jazeera that the end of hostilities does not equate to the end of logistics challenges. “Once the bombardments stop, the real work begins,” he said, noting that hundreds of vessels will scramble for berths in Persian Gulf ports, creating a prolonged bottleneck for containers and bulk cargo. According to the International Maritime Organization, about 2,000 ships are currently stranded because of Iran’s partial blockade, with only a handful of vessels from “friendly” nations granted passage. Maritime‑intelligence firm Windward estimates that roughly 400 of those ships are anchored in the Gulf of Oman, waiting for a green light. Diverted traffic has already forced many carriers to reroute via the Suez Canal or take the far longer Cape of Good Hope passage, inflating transit times and costs for shipments bound for Asia and Europe. Oil exports from Saudi Arabia are now being sent around the Red Sea, bypassing the strait entirely. Svein Ringbakken, managing director of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Mutual War Risks Association, cautioned that even with ports operating at full capacity, clearing the backlog of oil, gas and other goods will take months. He added that repeated attacks on regional energy and transport infrastructure have compounded the problem. The International Energy Agency reports that more than 40 energy assets across the Middle East have suffered “severe or very severe” damage, prompting companies such as QatarEnergy, Kuwait Petroleum Company and Bahrain’s Bapco Energies to declare force majeure. Beyond the immediate loss of flow, the shutdown has disrupted exports of petrochemicals, fertilisers and raw materials essential for plastics production, further straining global supply chains. Industry leaders warn that the risk landscape has fundamentally shifted. SV Anchan, chairman of US‑based logistics group Safesea, highlighted the rise of asymmetric threats, including unmanned vessel attacks, which have already accounted for at least 18 confirmed assaults since the conflict began. “A full reopening will only bring normalcy after a sustained period of stability and credible security guarantees,” Anchan said. Insurance costs have exploded as a result. Marco Forgione of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade noted that hull and cargo premiums have surged up to 300 %, a pressure point that could force shipping firms to curtail operations if rates remain high. Oscar Seikaly, CEO of NSI Insurance Group, stressed that war‑risk coverage will only normalize when a “truly permanent” security solution is in place, not a partial one. Recent data from Lloyd’s List show that a few vessels have managed to obtain Tehran’s permission to transit, with one ship reportedly paying $2 million for the right to pass. Iranian lawmakers have also moved to formalise transit fees for the strait. Nick Marro, lead global‑trade analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, warned that the security guarantees demanded by shippers may be hard to meet, citing the volatile Red Sea experience where commercial traffic remains below pre‑2023 levels. Marro predicts that the Hormuz shutdown will accelerate a broader trend of route diversification, similar to the supply‑chain shifts triggered by the COVID‑19 pandemic. “Geopolitical uncertainty will become a permanent feature of risk management, not a temporary reaction,” he said. Seikaly echoed this outlook, suggesting that exporters will increasingly explore alternative corridors for strategic and political reasons, ultimately reducing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz over the long term.

The UK government's proposal to boost North Sea oil and gas drilling is unlikely to provide relief to consumers in the form of lower energy prices. Oil prices have surged to $100 a barrel following the US and Israel's attack on Iran, with potential increases to $150 a barrel due to supply issues in the Strait of Hormuz.Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative party, has introduced a plan to 'get Britain drilling' by opening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea. However, experts argue that this will not reduce energy bills for UK consumers. Oil and gas are sold on international markets, and prices are set globally, so there is no direct discount for UK consumers.The Conservative party has previously acknowledged this, but now suggests that tax reforms and removal of VAT on bills could deliver £200 cuts to household energy bills. The plan involves scrapping the windfall tax on North Sea producers, which has raised about £12bn so far.Critics argue that the windfall tax is essential and that removing it would not stimulate production significantly. The tax does not increase prices to consumers and has the support of the International Energy Agency.Analysis suggests that redirecting tax revenues from the North Sea back to consumers would have a minimal impact on bills. A study found that households would gain only about £16 a year if tax revenues from a maximally exploited North Sea were redistributed.Badenoch's claims about job creation in the North Sea are also disputed. The sector is declining, and geology, not politics, will dictate the future of North Sea oil and gas. Most of the UK's sector has already been drained, with only about 218m tonnes of oil recoverable by 2050 from existing fields.New drilling could add only 74m tonnes of oil and 1.1% to gas production, equivalent to putting off the end of the North Sea by a year or two. Job losses in the sector are a concern, with at least 70,000 jobs lost in the decade to 2024.Experts stress that renewable energy sources are a more secure and sustainable alternative. The UK should focus on creating conditions for clean energy infrastructure to attract investment and drive growth.

Chelsea Football Club has reported a staggering £262.4m pre-tax loss for the 2024-25 season, shattering the previous English football record held by Manchester City. The substantial loss is primarily attributed to increased operating costs compared to the previous season. The club's financial report reveals a significant downturn from the £128.4m profit recorded in the 2023-24 season, which was largely bolstered by the sale of Chelsea's women's team for nearly £200m. In contrast, Chelsea's latest financial statements reflect a challenging period for the club. According to a UEFA report, Chelsea's losses for the 2024-25 season were even higher, estimated at €407m (£355m). However, club sources indicate that these figures are influenced by differing reporting requirements in European football. In addition to the financial loss, Chelsea disclosed that they had spent £65.1m on agents' fees, the highest in the Premier League, with Aston Villa being the next biggest spenders at £38.4m. The total spend on agents' fees across English top-flight clubs rose by 13% to £460.3m. Despite the record loss, Chelsea assured compliance with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), which permit maximum losses of £105m over three years, with certain expenditures like infrastructure and youth development being 'added back.' Chelsea reported revenue of £490.9m, the second-highest on record for the club, including earnings from their participation in the Club World Cup. The club is forecasting revenue of over £700m for the 2025-26 season. Sources close to Chelsea express confidence in their financial structuring and anticipate compliance with all regulatory requirements, including UEFA's football earnings rule, following a €20m fine for previous breaches.

A recent study has shown that a simple yet effective method can help prevent gulls from stealing food from beachgoers. Painting eyes on takeaway boxes can reduce gull theft by up to 50%. The research, conducted by Laura Kelley from the University of Exeter and her colleagues, involved presenting herring gulls with tempting takeaways at various seaside towns in Devon and Cornwall.The study found that when faced with a choice between a box with eyes painted on it and a plain box, gulls were slower to approach the box with eyes and less likely to peck at it. This effect was sustained, with gulls remaining wary of the boxes with eyes on them even after repeated exposure. The findings were published in Ecology and Evolution.The concept of using watchful eyes as a deterrent is not new. It has been shown to be effective in keeping starlings away from crops, raptors away from airports, and even reducing predator attacks on livestock by painting eyes on an animal's rump. Humans are also susceptible to the feeling of being watched, with images of human eyes successfully used to deterrent bike theft and increase charitable donations. However, not all gulls are deterred by the feeling of being watched, and shouting has been shown to be a good deterrent for bolder gulls.

The UK’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is set to sit down with the chief executives of Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons on Wednesday. The meeting aims to gauge the scale of possible price hikes and shortages of essential household goods as the nation grapples with a sharp rise in energy, fuel and fertiliser costs triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict. A Treasury source described the gathering as a "fact‑finding, open discussion" intended to identify any supply squeezes and to forecast the impact on the cost of living over the coming months. Allan Leighton, executive chair of Asda, will not attend but has publicly urged the government to "stand up and start doing stuff" to aid farmers and curb fuel prices, warning that food costs will inevitably climb if the conflict persists. Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, cautioned that price increases are "unlikely to rise until the summer" thanks to long‑term contracts on energy and fertiliser that currently keep a lid on costs. Nevertheless, UK growers are sounding the alarm. Producers of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and aubergines say higher input costs could force them to pull plants from the ground, creating potential gaps on supermarket shelves. Lee Stiles, secretary of the Lea Valley Growers’ Association – the region often dubbed London’s "salad bowl" – is lobbying for indoor food producers to be classified as "energy‑intensive users" alongside steel, chemicals, cement and glass, thereby qualifying for additional support with surging energy bills. Stiles also called on retailers to renegotiate contracts with growers to reflect the cost surge since the Middle East conflict began. He warned that the upcoming increase in standing charges on 1 April – a fixed daily fee for accessing the gas and electricity network – will further strain producers’ margins. "Growers have already invested in plants and labour for three to four months," Stiles said. "When you do the maths, the numbers don’t add up. They would lose less money by sending workers home, pulling the plants out and turning off the boiler." If domestic growers cut the season short, European glasshouses, which normally supply the UK’s salad market at this time of year, may struggle to fill the void, risking a repeat of the fresh‑produce shortages experienced in early 2023. The British Poultry Council (BPC) echoed these concerns, highlighting pressures on supplies of oil, gas, fertiliser and essential feed components. "These factors are creating sustained upward pressure on the cost of poultry production," the BPC warned, adding that while some cost increases may be absorbed, others will inevitably be passed on to consumers. Richard Griffiths, BPC chief executive, noted that while many farmers have long‑term energy deals, costs such as diesel are rising rapidly, and there are fears that vital medicines could become unavailable at any price. In response, the government has announced a £117 cut to household energy bills, an increase to the legal minimum wage, and the launch of a £1 billion "crisis and resilience" fund aimed at helping vulnerable households with expenses such as heating oil.