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The US and Israel are intensifying their military campaign against Iran, with Senator Marco Rubio stating that the operation is expected to conclude in 'weeks, not months'. The conflict escalated with a surprise strike on 28 February that killed Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.Despite Iran's defiance and denial of negotiations, the US and Israel continue to target Iran's nuclear facilities and military sites. Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, warned that attacks against Iran will 'escalate and expand' to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens.The conflict has significant economic implications, with the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil is usually shipped, being a key point of contention. The US has ordered thousands of marines and elite airborne troops to the region, possibly in preparation for a military effort to forcibly reopen the waterway.Iran has threatened to attack Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu and the Fujairah oil complex in the United Arab Emirates if a ground invasion takes place. The US president, Donald Trump, has issued an ultimatum to Iran, demanding that it allow free passage of shipping through the strait by 6 April or face the destruction of its energy plants.The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 1,900 people killed and 20,000 injured in Iran, and 19 people killed in Israel. The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon has worsened, with a fifth of the population displaced and nearly 1,100 people killed.The G7 foreign ministers have reiterated the need for safe and toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and called for an immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume, bringing with it a mix of lucrative opportunities and controversy. England's Jos Buttler is among those looking to make an impact, having struggled with form at the recent T20 World Cup. Buttler, who plays for Gujarat Titans, is England's most successful export to the IPL, with seven hundreds in 121 games for three different teams.Buttler's teammate Kevin Pietersen has shared his own experiences of playing in the IPL, revealing that the league saved his career by allowing him to build lasting relationships. Pietersen, who played 36 IPL matches, expressed his joy at the riches enjoyed by modern players, saying, "If you got paid $50m tomorrow to go and play cricket in Saudi Arabia, I'd be so happy for you."The IPL has also been marred by controversy, including political tensions between India and Pakistan. The tournament's impact extends beyond the field, with 12 England players set to participate. However, the event is also overshadowed by the tragic crowd crush at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru last June, which resulted in 11 deaths.In related news, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has been sold for £1.33 billion to a consortium featuring private equity group Blackstone. The team will begin the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, with Buttler and his teammates aiming to make a strong impression.

Saudi Arabia has urged the US to ramp up attacks on Iran, a Saudi intelligence source has confirmed, while it is weighing a decision on whether to join the fight directly. The Saudi source confirmed reporting that the kingdom’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has urged Donald Trump not to cut short his war against Iran, and that the US-Israeli campaign represented a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East.The intelligence source said Riyadh was not just calling for the military campaign to be continued, but to be intensified. Trump appeared to confirm the report about the crown prince’s role, telling journalists on Tuesday: “Yeah, he’s a warrior. He’s fighting with us.”There are no reports of active Saudi military involvement in the nearly four-week-old war so far, but a Saudi political analyst said the kingdom was likely to take that step if current peace efforts led by Pakistan failed.“What matters now is Iran’s decision,” Mohammed Alhamed, a Saudi geopolitical analyst, said. “If Iran engages seriously, there is still a path to contain escalation. If it rejects the conditions and continues its attacks, the threshold for Saudi action will be crossed.”Alhamed added that Saudi Arabia “is not reacting impulsively”.“It is calibrating its response and preparing for a scenario where escalation, if it happens, will be deliberate and decisive,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia “has not been pushing for war.”“It has been trying to avoid being drawn into it, while keeping all options on the table,” he said.Saudi Arabia has come under Iranian drone attack, as part of Tehran’s response to the US-Israeli attack on 28 February. One drone strike a week ago hit an oil refinery in Yanbu on Saudi Red Sea coast.The attack on Yanbu signalled an Iranian warning that it could also threaten that economic lifeline.“I believe that Saudi Arabia still maintains cautious neutrality in the Iran-Israel-US war,” Hesham Alghannam, a Saudi defence expert told Agence France-Presse. But he added: “If the Houthis strike Saudi assets, Riyadh may shift toward defensive coalition support or limited retaliation.”The crown prince solidified his hold on power by cultivating a close relationship with Trump, but will now have to rethink Saudi reliance on the US for its security, observers have argued.“MBS [Mohammed bin Salman] has lost the bet on all his investments over the last several years,” Ellie Geranmayeh, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations said. “He financially invested in Trump and Trump’s family and his corporation and his White House, but at the end of the day the views of the Saudis and of the whole Gulf have been sidelined by the wishes of Benjamin Netanyahu.”

The Dual Threat: Coruna and DarkSwordSecurity researchers have identified two distinct but equally dangerous hacking toolkits, Coruna and DarkSword, that have leaked onto the open web. These advanced exploit kits, capable of breaking into iPhones and iPads, were originally developed for high-level government surveillance but are now available for anyone to download.Coruna: Targets iOS 13 through 17.2.1. Linked to Trenchant, a unit within U.S. defense contractor L3Harris, and previously used in Operation Triangulation against Russian targets.DarkSword: Targets iOS 18.4 and 18.7. Leaked on GitHub, making it "plug-and-play" for cybercriminals.The Scale of VulnerabilityThe scale of this exposure is staggering. According to Apple's statistics, nearly one-in-three iPhone and iPad users are still not running the latest software. With over 2.5 billion active devices globally, this implies hundreds of millions of users are susceptible to these attacks.DarkSword is particularly concerning because it targets newer devices running iOS 18.4 and 18.7. Researchers have already tested the leaked code, successfully hacking their own devices to demonstrate the ease of use.From State-Sponsored Espionage to Public ExploitationThis leak marks a dangerous shift in the cybersecurity landscape. Historically, sophisticated tools like Coruna were the domain of state-sponsored actors targeting specific regions, such as the Uyghurs in China or activists in Hong Kong.However, the release of DarkSword represents a move toward indiscriminate cybercrime. The tool is written in web languages like HTML and JavaScript, allowing attackers to launch attacks simply by hosting a malicious website. Victims in China, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine have already been targeted.The Future of Zero-Day WeaponizationThe leak of these tools mirrors the infamous 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack, which was fueled by leaked NSA exploits. Once powerful zero-day vulnerabilities are released into the wild, they are nearly impossible to fully contain.Experts recommend immediate action: users must update to iOS 18.7.6 or iOS 26.3.1. For high-risk individuals, enabling Lockdown Mode remains the most effective defense, as there is currently no public evidence of hackers bypassing its protections.

Liverpool FC's Egyptian star Mohamed Salah has announced that he will be leaving the Premier League club at the end of the season. The 33-year-old forward confirmed the news in a video message on social media, marking the 'first part' of his farewell.Salah will depart on a free transfer despite having 12 months remaining on his contract. The reasons behind his departure are not explicitly stated, but earlier in the season, he mentioned having a nonexistent relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot.The fan favorite accused the club of making him a scapegoat for their poor start to the Premier League season. Speculation about his next destination has been ongoing, with links to several clubs around the world.Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, stated that no decision has been made about his future. The Saudi Pro League, particularly Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, have been mentioned as potential destinations. A move to the MLS in the United States is also a possibility.Liverpool has respected Salah's wish to announce his departure early, celebrating his achievements and memorable moments with the club. Salah is one of the most decorated players in Premier League history, with 255 goals in 435 appearances and numerous awards, including three PFA Player of the Year titles and four Premier League Golden Boot awards.

Tractor FC from Iran is set to travel to Saudi Arabia for a crucial playoff match against Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai. The winner of this match will advance to the Asian Champions League Elite quarterfinals to face Buriram United of Thailand. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently conducted the draw for the quarterfinal pairings. This comes after the western zone playoffs were postponed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi city of Jeddah will also host the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals, and final from April 16 to 25. The AFC is hopeful that the situation in the region will calm down, allowing the matches to proceed as planned. “We all want to play matches as soon as possible. So, hopefully we’re able to finish fixtures in April as we have planned,” said AFC general secretary Windsor John. “We’re hoping that things will calm down very soon.” Other notable matches include Vissel Kobe (Japan) facing the winner of the playoff between Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) and Al-Sadd (United Arab Emirates). Defending champions Al-Ahli Saudi will play Al-Duhail (Qatar) for a spot in the quarterfinals against Johor Darul Ta’zim (Malaysia). The AFC Champions League Two and AFC Challenge League quarterfinals have also been postponed and will be played on April 19 and 22 at centralized venues yet to be announced. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr is among the teams competing in the Asian Champions League Two.

The recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East has sent shockwaves across South Asia, affecting millions of families who depend on remittances from their loved ones working in the Gulf nations. The war between the US and Israel on Iran has resulted in a significant increase in tensions, with Iranian attacks on Gulf neighbours causing widespread fear and uncertainty.For Jaya Khuntia, a father from India's Odisha state, the conflict has brought unimaginable tragedy. His 25-year-old son, Kuna, a pipe fitter in Qatar's capital Doha, died of a heart attack after hearing the sound of missiles and debris from interceptions falling near their residence. Kuna's death has left the family in debt and despair, with their hopes of paying off a 300,000-rupee ($3200) loan for the marriages of their two daughters shattered.Migrant workers from South Asia, totaling nearly 21 million people in the Gulf nations, are often engaged in blue-collar work, building or supporting the industries and services that drive the Gulf's success and prosperity. However, they are also among the most vulnerable, with many working in areas targeted by Iranian attacks, such as oil refineries, construction areas, airports, and docks.The suspension of work at many of these facilities, coupled with fears of a major economic downturn in the region, has left many workers and their families worried about the future of their jobs. Experts warn that remittances from the Middle East, a crucial economic backbone for South Asian nations, could be significantly affected, especially if Gulf economies contract and layoffs follow.For Hamza, a Pakistani migrant laborer working at an oil storage facility in the UAE, the conflict has brought a sense of fear and uncertainty. He witnessed a drone attack on a storage unit and was shaken by the experience. Despite the dangers, he said leaving is not an option, as his family depends on him.Imran Khan, a faculty member at the New Delhi Institute of Management, said migrant laborers from South Asia are often driven by desperation to take up jobs in the Middle East. He warned that these workers are the worst affected during crises, whether war or natural disasters.As the conflict continues, many South Asian workers are planning to return home. Noor, a migrant worker from Bangladesh employed at an oil facility in Saudi Arabia, said he no longer feels safe and plans to return home once his contract ends. His family, too, is deeply affected, with his children crying every time they call him, scared for his life.

Mohamed Salah's future has become the subject of intense speculation after his agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, confirmed that the Liverpool star will leave Anfield at the end of the season. While there will be attention on whether Salah can end his nine-year spell with a trophy, the focus is shifting to his next destination.Salah's former teammates Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino have already made the move to Saudi Arabia, and it is a path that Salah may well take. The Saudi media is hopeful that the country is in pole position to sign the Egyptian star, with several top clubs expressing interest.Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli are all reportedly interested in signing Salah, with each club offering different advantages and challenges. Al-Ittihad have had offers turned down before and would likely be a frontrunner, while Al-Hilal, the most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, could make a strong claim to being the biggest.The signing of Salah would not only boost the Saudi Pro League's profile but also provide a significant marketing coup. As one of the biggest names in Middle Eastern sport, Salah's presence would help to maintain global interest in the league, which has been investing heavily in star players since 2023.There are also religious and personal factors that could influence Salah's decision, with several players citing their Muslim faith and desire to live in a Muslim country as reasons for joining Saudi clubs.Ultimately, if Salah does join a club in Saudi Arabia this summer, he will become the face of the league for years to come, and his decision will have significant implications for the future of the Saudi Pro League and European football.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is facing a severe crisis after a stunning 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on Sunday. The loss has left his team reeling, with only seven Premier League games remaining to salvage the season.The defeat, which saw Brian Brobbey score a 90th-minute winner for Sunderland, has raised serious questions about Howe's tactics and team selection. The manager's often chaotic attacking approach has been criticized, with some suggesting he should have opted for a more pragmatic approach to secure a point.Howe's future at Newcastle United is now uncertain, with the club's Saudi Arabian ownership set to conduct a thorough performance review this summer. The manager's in-game management and player selection will come under intense scrutiny, particularly his decision to play Anthony Gordon as a centre-forward.The team's defensive frailties were exposed in a 7-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League, and their inability to keep clean sheets has been a major concern. With a summer rebuild likely, Howe's position as manager may depend on his ability to address these issues and deliver European football next season.