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The UK defence industry is in a state of crisis as a long-delayed military spending plan has left firms 'bleeding cash' and in 'paralysis'. The six-month delay to the defence investment plan (DIP) has resulted in some companies going bust, while others are struggling to stay afloat.Industry groups have warned that the delay has left the UK behind Germany and the US in attracting investment from global investors. The DIP, originally expected last autumn, has been repeatedly postponed amid warnings that the military faces a £28bn funding gap over the next four years.Samira Braund, the defence director of the ADS Group trade body, described the situation as 'paralysis', stating that the government has not put effective mitigation plans in place. The boss of BAE Systems, Europe's biggest defence contractor, has urged ministers to publish the plan, while some smaller firms have been forced out of business.One such company was MTE Heat Treatment, a Yorkshire-based manufacturer with just over 30 employees that helped make turbine blades for jet engines. It fell into administration in February. Andrew Kinniburgh, the head of the trade body Make UK's defence arm, warned that the delay risks deterring investment in the UK at a time when the US and Europe are also raising military spending.The DIP will show how the government plans to fund its strategic defence review, the blueprint for transforming the military amid growing threats from Russia, rising commitments to Nato and against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran. Ministers accepted all the review's recommendations when it was published last June, but the head of the military, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, told MPs in January that defence cuts would be needed without more funding.

An Iranian missile has struck central Tel Aviv, causing widespread damage to buildings and vehicles, and injuring at least six people. The attack has led to a significant escalation of tensions in the region, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to continue striking Tehran and Lebanon.“There’s more to come,” Netanyahu said in remarks that appeared to corroborate those of three Israeli officials who told Reuters they thought it was improbable that Iran would accept US demands in any new round of negotiations. This development has dimmed hopes of de-escalation after US President Donald Trump played up the chances of a deal to end the conflict.In a statement released on Tuesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would launch heavy missile and drone attacks at Israeli troops in northern Israel and the area near Gaza “without restraint” unless Israel ceased attacks in Lebanon and Palestine. The threat has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.Police said an Iranian munition carrying a substantial explosive payload struck the central city, causing widespread damage to buildings and vehicles. At least six people were lightly injured. Several buildings were damaged across Tel Aviv, with emergency services reporting casualties at one of the impact sites. One building and the adjacent road were heavily affected, with cars set ablaze.Israel’s health ministry reports 4,829 injured people have been brought to hospitals since the onset of the war. Of those people, 111 remain in hospital and 12 are in a serious condition. The strikes were the latest in a cycle of retaliation after Israeli operations announced on Monday.About 40 minutes after Trump said he would delay action against Iran’s power infrastructure, Israel said on X that it had “just begun another wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran”. The Israel Defense Forces said energy facilities would be spared, suggesting that Israel may be aligning with Washington in suspending attacks on Iranian power plants and related sites.The US-based Human Rights Activists’ News Agency said in the previous 24 hours it had recorded at least 206 attacks across 15 provinces in Iran, resulting in at least four casualties (killed and injured, both civilian and military). At least six people were killed in strikes on homes in the city of Tabriz, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.Since US-Israeli bombs started falling on Iran, estimates of total deaths (military and civilian) in the country have exceeded 1,500, with some rights groups reporting figures as high as 3,230 as of 21 March. The escalation has also spilled beyond Israel, with Iranian strikes extending into Gulf states.

President Trump's assertion of 'very good' talks with Iran has raised eyebrows, especially after Tehran denied any negotiations were underway. The sudden detente comes as US markets prepare for another volatile trading day, with oil and energy markets closely watching developments.Trump, standing beside Air Force One, attempted to sell the unexpected diplomatic shift, but provided few details. He hinted at a potential deal involving Iran's nuclear program and control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil supplies.The reported interlocutor, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament, has denied any talks with the US, suggesting that Trump is trying to mitigate financial damage from Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Ghalibaf accused Trump of using 'fake news' to manipulate markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.Despite skepticism, international leaders, including Keir Starmer and Benjamin Netanyahu, have cautiously welcomed the talks. Netanyahu emphasized that any deal must safeguard Israel's interests, while also continuing to strike targets in Iran and Lebanon.The negotiations may be another attempt by Trump to buy time, particularly for oil and energy markets. The Pentagon is still positioning military assets, and a potential strike or occupation of Iran's islands or coastline remains a contingency plan if diplomatic efforts fail.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a temporary ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which begins on Thursday and lasts until Tuesday. The decision was made amid weeks of deadly violence between the neighboring countries.Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that the ceasefire was requested by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. He stated that Pakistan is offering this gesture in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms.However, Tarar also warned that if there are any cross-border attacks, drone attacks, or terrorist incidents inside Pakistan, military operations will immediately resume with renewed intensity.The Taliban government in Afghanistan also confirmed that it would temporarily suspend military operations against Pakistan.The ceasefire comes after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of killing hundreds of people in an air strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul. Pakistan has strongly rejected these claims, stating that it only targets terrorist infrastructure and military locations.The United Nations reported 143 deaths in the incident at the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility. The conflict has led to repeated cross-border clashes and air strikes inside Afghanistan, despite international calls for a ceasefire and concerns about a widening displacement crisis.The World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged all parties to de-escalate and prioritize peace and health, noting that at least six health facilities in Afghanistan have been affected by the violence since late February.The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the temporary truce as a positive gesture that contributes to de-escalation and promotes calm between the two sides. They hope the pause in fighting will pave the way for a return to a sustainable ceasefire agreement that spares civilian lives and achieves security and stability.

The United Nations has recorded 143 deaths in an air strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, significantly lower than the figure offered by Afghanistan's Taliban government.The attack on Kabul's Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital on Monday night has sharpened a bitter dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the Taliban putting the casualties at more than 400 people killed and about 265 wounded.The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan provided its figure to the Reuters news agency on Wednesday. The gap between the two counts underscores the difficulty of verifying casualty figures in the conflict as competing claims frequently come from Kabul and Islamabad.Afghanistan's Taliban administration has blamed Pakistan for the attack on the drug rehabilitation centre, a 2,000-bed facility, and Pakistan has denied carrying out the strike. Hamdullah Fitrat, a deputy spokesman for the Taliban administration, said the strike hit the hospital, destroying large sections of the building and triggering fires that rescue teams worked through the night to contain.Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of deliberately hitting civilian infrastructure and called the assault a “crime against humanity”. Mujahid said those killed and wounded were patients undergoing addiction treatment at the time of the strike.Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, denied the allegation, insisting his country “only targeted terrorist infrastructure and military locations”. The strike is the latest in a widening confrontation between the two neighbours, who have engaged in repeated cross-border clashes.At the heart of the dispute is a long-running Pakistani accusation that the Taliban government shelters the Pakistan Taliban, known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, as well as outlawed Baloch separatist groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani soil. Kabul has consistently denied providing sanctuary to the groups.

Sri Lanka's government has rejected a request from the United States to land two combat aircraft at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in southern Sri Lanka from March 4 to 8. The request was made on February 26, just before the US and Israel launched their military offensive against Iran.President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Sri Lanka's parliament that the US wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight antiship missiles from a base in Djibouti. The government turned down the request to maintain Sri Lanka's neutrality in the conflict.The decision comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Iranian missile and drone attacks sending energy prices soaring and fuelling fears of a widening conflict. The US-Israeli war on Iran has sparked widespread concern globally, with many countries refusing to get directly involved while calling for urgent de-escalation.Sri Lanka's president also cited his country's neutrality in denying the US request, saying that had they accepted the US request, they would have had to do the same for Iran, which had also made a request for three naval vessels to make a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka on the same day.In recent weeks, Sri Lanka's navy rescued 32 Iranian crew off IRIS Dena after it was torpedoed by a US submarine off the country's coast, killing at least 84 people. Days later, Sri Lanka evacuated more than 200 crew members from a second Iranian vessel, IRIS Bushehr, after the ship requested assistance from Colombo.

Israel's actions in Lebanon have sparked concerns about possible war crimes, with the displacement of civilians being a major point of contention. The situation has raised questions about Israel's adherence to international law and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.The incident has been reported by various sources, including Al Jazeera, and has been attributed to Israel's military actions in the region. The international community has been urged to take a closer look at the situation and hold parties accountable for any violations of human rights and international law.

Southern Lebanon is grappling with the consequences of a recent Israeli military operation, as local communities begin to assess the damage and humanitarian impact of the attack. The incident has significantly escalated tensions in an already volatile region, drawing international attention to the fragile security situation along the Lebanon-Israel border. Reports indicate that the Israeli operation targeted specific locations in southern Lebanon, though details regarding the exact nature of the targets and the extent of civilian casualties remain unclear. The aftermath has left local infrastructure damaged and displaced families seeking shelter in safer areas, according to sources familiar with the situation. p>International observers have expressed concern over the potential for further escalation in the region, given the complex web of alliances and competing interests in the Middle East. The United Nations has called for restraint from all parties and urged diplomatic efforts to prevent the situation from spiraling into broader conflict. p>The Lebanese government has condemned the Israeli action as a violation of sovereignty, while Israeli officials have characterized the operation as necessary security measures against threats originating from southern Lebanon. The conflicting narratives highlight the deep divisions that continue to characterize relations between the two neighboring countries. p>Humanitarian organizations are assessing the needs of affected communities, with concerns growing about the long-term impact on civilian populations in the region. The international community is being called upon to provide assistance and support efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent further bloodshed in an area with a history of violent conflict.

Iran's IRGC spokesman has made a bold statement directed at US President Donald Trump, saying 'You're fired!'. This remark comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations.The statement was reported by Al Jazeera on March 23, 2026. While details surrounding the context of the statement remain limited, it underscores the strained relationship between Iran and the United States.The IRGC, or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, plays a significant role in Iran's military and political landscape. Statements from its spokespeople are often scrutinized for insights into Iran's policy stances and geopolitical strategies.