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The US labor market demonstrated unexpected strength in March, with the unemployment rate dropping to 4.3% despite concerns over economic instability and the ongoing conflict with Iran. According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, non-farm payrolls grew by 178,000 jobs in March, rebounding from a downwardly revised loss of 133,000 jobs in February.The healthcare sector led the gains, adding 76,000 jobs in March, significantly higher than the 29,000 average monthly increase over the last year. This surge follows a large-scale nursing strike that ended on February 24, which had temporarily removed over 30,000 healthcare workers from payrolls.The construction sector also saw notable growth, with 26,000 jobs added in March. Additionally, the transportation and warehousing sector grew by 21,000 jobs over the previous month, although it has experienced an overall loss of 139,000 jobs since February 2025.In contrast, the federal government, the largest employer in the US, continued to shrink, cutting 18,000 federal employee positions in March. This marks a 355,000 job decline from the same period last year.The White House has praised the jobs report as evidence that President Trump's policies are stimulating the domestic economy. Kush Desai, White House deputy press secretary, stated that the March jobs report 'blew out expectations' with strong construction job growth and a surge in manufacturing job creation.However, experts warn that the impact of the US conflict with Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, is not yet fully reflected in the job numbers. Economists at JPMorgan cautioned that negative payroll readings could become more common, and Angela Hanks, chief of policy programmes at The Century Foundation, noted that wage growth has stalled, and oil prices are skyrocketing, threatening to weaken the job market.The economic uncertainty is also affecting US consumers, with the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey dropping by 6% in March to its lowest level since December 2025. Furthermore, the average price for a gallon of petrol has increased to $4.09 ($1.08 per litre), up from $3.10 ($0.82 per litre) this time last month.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stern warning against the ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iranian healthcare facilities, amid the escalating conflict. The organisation's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported that over 20 attacks on healthcare facilities in Iran have been verified since March 1, resulting in at least nine deaths, including an infectious diseases health worker and a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.The Pasteur Institute in Tehran, one of the oldest research and health facilities in the country, has sustained significant damage and was rendered unable to continue delivering health services. Iranian Ministry of Health spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour shared images of the heavily damaged building on social media, with parts of the facility reduced to rubble.Despite the attacks, Iran's ISNA news agency reported that the services of the Pasteur Institute have not been interrupted, and vaccine and serum production would continue. The WHO chief emphasised that the Institute plays a crucial role in protecting and promoting population health, particularly in emergencies.The attacks have not been limited to the Pasteur Institute. The WHO has reported damage to other healthcare facilities, including the Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital and the Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical facility, with no casualties reported. An explosion near the Imam Ali Hospital in Khuzestan province led to the facility's evacuation and cessation of services.Tedros stressed that humanitarian workers, ambulances, relief supplies, and humanitarian facilities must be respected and protected under international law. The Geneva Conventions, agreed upon after World War II, designate healthcare facilities as protected locations.The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that a warehouse belonging to the organisation was targeted, destroying two-wheeled relief containers and two buses and relief vehicles. According to the organisation, 307 health, medical, and emergency care facilities have been damaged in the war.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that naturally occur in the body, acting as hormones such as insulin, oxytocin and vasopressin, or as fragments released during protein digestion.In recent years, a wave of interest has turned these molecules into purported therapeutic agents for everything from weight loss to anti‑ageing and tissue repair. Prescription drugs like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are synthetic peptides that have undergone rigorous clinical testing and are approved for specific medical uses.However, a large portion of the market consists of unregulated, experimental peptides sold for self‑administration. These products often bypass the strict approval processes required for medicines, raising serious safety concerns.Who is using these products? Initially confined to a niche of powerlifters and bodybuilders in the 2010s, the audience has expanded dramatically. Influential figures such as podcaster Joe Rogan have promoted combinations like the “Wolverine stack” (BPC‑157 and TB‑500) for injury recovery, while other compounds—CJC‑1295, MK‑677, ipamorelin, and GHK‑Cu—are marketed for muscle growth and anti‑ageing. Social media platforms are now flooded with instructions on purchasing and injecting these substances.Scientific backing is scant. Reviews of the literature reveal that most experimental peptides have only been tested in animal or cell models. For example, BPC‑157 shows promise for tendon and muscle repair in pre‑clinical studies, but no randomized human trials have validated these effects. Similarly, TB‑4 and its synthetic analogue TB‑500 have demonstrated limited blood‑vessel formation in laboratory settings, yet human data are absent and both are listed as prohibited substances by the World Anti‑Doping Agency.Researchers also highlight a critical knowledge gap: dosage, frequency and treatment duration remain undefined, making self‑administration a gamble.Legal landscape in the UK is clear that peptides not classified as medicines fall outside the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) remit. If a seller makes medicinal claims, the product must hold a marketing authorisation under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. The MHRA warns that labeling items as “research use only” does not shield vendors from enforcement when evidence shows the products are intended for human consumption.Health risks are multi‑fold. Experts caution that benefits observed in animal studies do not guarantee safety in humans. Contamination with harmful impurities or bacterial endotoxins can trigger severe reactions, including septic shock. Injecting excess natural peptides may disrupt the body’s tightly regulated hormonal balance, potentially affecting multiple physiological pathways.There is also theoretical concern that augmenting peptide levels could accelerate tumour growth, as some cancers over‑express certain peptide pathways. While no direct cases have been documented, the possibility underscores the need for caution.Additional dangers include improper injection techniques (e.g., air embolism), unknown interactions with existing medications, and the lack of systematic monitoring of long‑term effects. As one researcher put it, “If something goes wrong, users may never notice until irreversible damage has occurred.”

The UK medicines regulator has opened an inquiry into a growing number of clinics that sell injectable peptides while promoting them as cures for everything from ageing to injury recovery. The investigation, disclosed by the Guardian, focuses on whether these businesses are breaching the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 by making unauthorised medicinal claims. Interest in peptide‑based treatments has surged in recent years, driven by social‑media influencers, some healthcare professionals, and direct‑to‑consumer marketers. Yet the scientific foundation for most of these claims is weak, with the bulk of research confined to animal models or cell‑culture studies. According to an MHRA spokesperson, any clinic that advertises a peptide as having therapeutic benefits must treat the product as a medicine, which triggers a comprehensive regulatory framework. "If clinics offering peptide injections make medicinal claims for those treatments, the products will be considered medicines and subject to regulation," the agency warned, adding that it will act against any identified breaches. Guardian reporters identified several high‑ranking Google search results that list peptides such as Cortexin (promoted for neuroprotection), BPC‑157 (claimed to aid tissue repair), and Thymosin Alpha (advertised to boost immunity). After being contacted, one clinic removed the statements from its website. Another clinic, while acknowledging the limited human evidence, continued to market seven specific peptides, providing price lists (£350 per month for a single peptide, £450 for two) and offering delivery via vials, syringes, or pre‑filled pens for an additional fee. During a free consultation, a clinician highlighted the experimental nature of the products, noting the absence of large‑scale, randomised clinical trials and recommending a break of four to eight weeks between treatment cycles to mitigate unknown risks. The clinician suggested BPC‑157 for post‑exercise recovery, describing it as a facilitator of cellular repair and blood flow, but warned against its use in smokers or individuals with a family history of cancer due to potential angiogenic effects. The second peptide discussed was MOTS‑C, portrayed as a mitochondrial enhancer that could improve stress resilience, lower insulin resistance, and reduce visceral fat by boosting cellular energy production (ATP). The MHRA confirmed it is reviewing whether the clinician’s statements constitute medicinal claims. The clinic defended its approach, emphasizing that it clearly informs clients that the peptides are not licensed medicines and that the evidence base is largely pre‑clinical. In a broader statement, Lynda Scammell, head of borderline products at the MHRA, explained that peptide products may be marketed as cosmetics, supplements, or medicines, and each case is assessed on its intended use, pharmacological effect, and supporting evidence. She added, "We disregard claims that products are for ‘research purposes’ if it is clear that such claims are being used as an attempt to avoid medicines regulations." Peptides are short chains of amino acids, some of which occur naturally (e.g., insulin). While synthetic peptide analogues like semaglutide and tirzepatide have secured approval for weight‑loss treatments, many of the compounds promoted by these clinics remain experimental and lack the rigorous safety and efficacy testing required for medicinal products.

President Donald Trump has unveiled a bold budget request, seeking $1.5 trillion for military spending, a nearly 40% increase from the previous year. This ambitious proposal underscores the White House's priorities, emphasizing military strength and law enforcement.The budget request, while not legally binding, sets the stage for intense congressional negotiations. It includes a proposed $455 billion increase over fiscal year 2026, separate from an emergency request of $200 billion for the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.The plan involves significant shifts in funding, with $73 billion in cuts to domestic programs, including initiatives to counter climate change, boost renewable energy, and support equality and access in housing, education, and healthcare. Instead, funding would be redirected to projects such as Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system, critical minerals investment, US shipbuilding, and troop salary increases.Trump's proposal also emphasizes immigration enforcement, calling for continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to support his mass deportation campaign. The request includes a 13% increase for the Department of Justice, focusing on violent crime.The budget plan faces challenges, including a potential deadlock in Congress over funding for ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. The administration suggests passing the budget through a mechanism known as reconciliation, which could be achieved with a simple majority in Congress.The US military expenditure has steadily increased, reaching $997 billion in 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The country consistently spends more on its military than the next nine countries combined, raising questions about priorities in defense and domestic spending.

The conflict between the US and Israel against Iran has taken a devastating toll on the country's healthcare system. At least 2,076 people have been killed and 26,500 wounded in Iran since the US and Israel first launched strikes on the country on February 28.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has strongly condemned the attacks, appealing to international health organizations to respond to the crisis. On Thursday, he wrote on X: “What message does attacking hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and the Pasteur Institute as a medical research center in Iran convey?”The Pasteur Institute, a key center for medical research and vaccine production in Tehran, has been targeted. The institute, founded over 100 years ago in collaboration with the Institut Pasteur in Paris, conducts research on infectious diseases, produces vaccines, and provides advanced diagnostics.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 20 attacks on healthcare facilities in Iran have been verified since March 1, resulting in at least nine deaths, including an infectious diseases health worker and a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.Some of the facilities hit include:Red Crescent warehouse in Bushehr province, which was destroyed by a drone strike on Friday morning.Tofigh Daru Research and Engineering Company, one of Iran’s largest pharmaceutical companies, which was hit on March 31.Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran, which was significantly damaged on March 29.Ali Hospital in Andimeshk, which sustained damage from an explosion on March 21.Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, which was damaged during attacks on a nearby television communications tower on March 2.International humanitarian law states that health establishments and units, including hospitals, should not be attacked. The United Nations Security Council resolution 2286 was adopted unanimously in 2016, condemning attacks on healthcare and calling on nations to respect international law.The attacks on healthcare facilities are not limited to Iran. Israel has also targeted healthcare facilities in Lebanon and Gaza, resulting in significant damage and loss of life.

Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon have led to a significant deterioration of the country's healthcare infrastructure. In the past month, 53 medical workers have been killed, 87 ambulances and medical centers destroyed, and five hospitals forced to close, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health.The attacks have resulted in the displacement of 1.2 million people, putting an enormous strain on the already struggling Lebanese healthcare system. Experts and analysts say that Israel's actions are part of a broader strategy to force people out of southern Lebanon.“Israeli strikes and blanket evacuation orders are cutting people off from care and shrinking the space for health services to function,” said Luna Hammad, Lebanon medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF). MSF has documented a pattern of attacks affecting healthcare.The destruction of healthcare infrastructure has also led to a significant increase in emergency room admissions. Healthcare facilities are under higher strain than before, with many patients needing treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and dialysis being transferred further north.Direct attacks on healthcare workers and facilities have been documented by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which has noted repeated, apparently deliberate attacks on medical workers in Lebanon. Medical workers and healthcare facilities are protected under international humanitarian law, and Israel's attacks on medics in 2024 were described as an apparent war crime by HRW.The attacks on healthcare infrastructure during times of war are not new. Forensic Architecture has documented systematic targeting of hospitals and healthcare workers in Gaza. Experts warn that such attacks have compounding effects, including treatable injuries getting worse, war wounds not healing properly, and long-term consequences.Experts and analysts say that the attacks are unlikely to cease as long as the pattern of impunity continues. Lebanon's government has a responsibility to ensure accountability and to give jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and prosecute war crimes.

President Donald Trump escalated rhetoric on Thursday, stating that the United States has yet to begin a full‑scale campaign against Iran’s remaining infrastructure and hinting that bridges and electric power plants could be next targets. The comment followed the release of video showing a U.S. strike on the newly completed B1 bridge that connects Tehran to Karaj, an attack that Iran reports killed eight people and injured 95. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strike on civilian infrastructure, describing it as evidence of the “defeat and moral collapse” of the aggressor. In a statement posted on X, he warned that such attacks would not force Iran to surrender. The conflict, now entering its fifth week, has begun to ripple through regional and global markets. Instability around the Strait of Hormuz—a vital conduit for oil and gas—has prompted nations to scramble for alternative shipping routes. Satellite images this week captured smoke over Iran’s Qeshm Island, underscoring the heightened risk to infrastructure near the strategic waterway. Amid stalled negotiations with Iran’s new leadership, Trump’s intensified language comes as the United Nations Security Council prepares to vote on a resolution that could authorize member states to use “defensive means” to keep the strait open. Araghchi warned that any provocative action in the Council would only worsen the situation. Iranian media have begun listing potential retaliation targets, naming major bridges in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan as possible future strike points. The semi‑official Fars News Agency highlighted these crossings as vulnerable following the Karaj bridge attack. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for recent strikes on U.S.-linked industrial sites in the Gulf, including steel facilities in Abu Dhabi and aluminium plants in Bahrain. The IRGC warned that if attacks on Iranian industries continue, “the next response will be much more painful” and will focus on the occupier’s core infrastructure. Health infrastructure has also suffered. Iran’s Health Ministry reported that U.S. and Israeli raids severely damaged the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a key research center for diseases such as cholera and COVID‑19. Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour called the strike “a direct assault on international health security.” WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed the condemnation, noting that the institute is now unable to deliver health services. The WHO has documented more than 20 attacks on Iranian healthcare facilities since the start of March. In a separate claim, Iranian officials said air defenses downed a second U.S. F‑35 fighter jet over central Iran, suggesting the pilot’s survival was unlikely. The United States has not responded to the allegation. Israel’s military reported a fresh barrage of Iranian missiles, which triggered air‑defence alerts and caused damage to homes, vehicles, and a train station in Tel Aviv. The widening hostilities, combined with threats to critical energy and health infrastructure, highlight the growing regional volatility and its potential to disrupt global markets.

In the midst of ongoing conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel, a beacon of hope and joy has emerged at the Children's Medical Center in Tehran. The hospital, operating under the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, has become a sanctuary for young patients and their families, providing a much-needed respite from the stress and anxiety of war.On Thursday, families across Iran celebrated Sizdah Bedar, or Nature Day, marking the 13th day of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. While many gathered at Pardisan Park in Tehran to spend time with loved ones, a group of doctors and healthcare providers at the Children's Medical Center worked tirelessly to create a joyful experience for children who could not join in due to illness.Resident doctors and interns have been pooling their own resources and relying on donations to organise activities for the children. The hospital, which has not been impacted by strikes unlike some other medical facilities in Tehran, has seen a decline in patient numbers due to the war, with some parents opting to take their children to paediatric facilities in other cities perceived as safer.Dr. Samaneh Kavousi, one of the organisers, emphasised the importance of providing relief to children and their families, stating, 'We've been trying to do what we can to relieve some of that anxiety.' The hospital's efforts have included art therapy, music, and play activities, as well as distributing fun bags filled with toys and food.Despite the challenges posed by the war, the hospital remains prepared to quickly bounce back to normal activity levels when the conflict ends. Dr. Zeynab Aalihaghi, another resident organiser, noted that the facility faces no shortage of medicine at the moment and hopes to continue helping children and their families.As the war continues, the Children's Medical Center in Tehran stands as a testament to the resilience and dedication of healthcare personnel and the importance of providing hope and joy to those affected by conflict.