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Israel’s military announced plans to bomb the Sohmor and Mashghara bridges spanning the Litani River in the western Bekaa Valley, stating they are being used by Hezbollah. The threat comes as Israeli forces intensify a ground invasion that began in early March. Al Jazeera reporter Obaida Hitto described the two spans as “the main arteries for goods, for people, for movement” between the rest of Lebanon and the western Bekaa. He warned that their destruction would effectively isolate the western Bekaa, making it extremely difficult for residents to reach the hub of Chtoura, hospitals, and other essential services. According to the same source, Israel has already demolished at least six other bridges over the Litani River since the offensive escalated in early March, signalling a systematic effort to sever transport links. Human‑rights organisations have condemned the targeting of civilian infrastructure, arguing that the strategy appears designed to isolate the region and contravene international humanitarian law. The deepening ground operation, announced last week, also includes plans to raze “scores of residential homes,” raising further concerns about the scale of civilian displacement. On Friday, the South Lebanon Water Establishment reported that Israeli strikes damaged critical water facilities in Ibl al‑Saqi and al‑Maysat, and impaired solar‑power installations at several stations. The authority called the attacks a “clear and explicit violation of all international conventions and norms” protecting civilian services. In the same wave of violence, the National News Agency (NNA) confirmed that four people were killed across Lebanon on Friday, including two worshippers exiting a mosque in the western Bekaa town of Sahmar. Since the conflict erupted on 2 March, more than 1.2 million people have been forced from their homes, according to UN data. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health cites a death toll of 1,345 and over 4,000 wounded nationwide. The fighting has also claimed the lives of at least three United Nations peacekeepers this week, with two additional peacekeepers seriously injured after an explosion near a UN position in al‑Adaissah. UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel urged all parties to respect the safety of peacekeepers, emphasizing that combat activities must not endanger UN personnel.

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.

Rising fortunes among the ultra‑rich under the Trump administration have ignited a wave of tax‑reform campaigns across the United States. In California, volunteers like Karen Sanchez are gathering signatures for a one‑time 5% wealth tax targeting the state’s 200‑plus billionaires to offset federal cuts to hospitals, education and food‑assistance programs.At least ten states are exploring similar measures. Washington recently enacted its first income‑tax aimed at roughly 20,000 millionaire households, while Massachusetts and Minnesota already channel wealth‑tax proceeds into preschool, K‑12 meals and transportation infrastructure.On the federal front, Senators Bernie Sanders and Representative Ro Khanna have introduced the “Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act,” proposing an annual 5% levy on billionaire net worth. Khanna argues that the ultra‑wealthy fund private health insurers, defense contractors and political campaigns, creating a stark fairness gap.Data from Oxfam shows that in the twelve months after Trump’s re‑election, billionaire fortunes grew at a rate three times faster than the average annual growth of the previous five years. Meanwhile, the federal minimum wage has remained stagnant at $7.25 for fifteen years, underscoring the widening economic divide.A Data for Progress poll released last fall found that 70% of Americans believe the economic system favours corporations and the wealthy. “People are angry and want change,” says Amy Hanauer of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), noting that activists are leveraging every level of government to seek relief.The movement draws on a two‑decade history of class‑based activism, from the Occupy Wall Street protests to Senator Sanders’ 2016 campaign that foregrounded wealth‑tax proposals. Yet inequality has deepened: CEOs of the five largest U.S. firms now earn, on average, **$52 million** annually—over a thousand times the typical worker’s salary.Political spending by billionaires has also exploded. A recent New York Times analysis reveals that billionaire contributions rose from **0.3% of campaign funds in 2008** to **19% in 2024**, amounting to more than **$3 billion** from roughly 300 ultra‑rich donors, many of whom supported candidates opposing wealth taxes, including former President Donald Trump.The war in Iran has further inflamed resentment, with the United States spending **$11.3 billion** in the first week of bombardment—far exceeding the annual budgets of agencies such as the CDC, EPA and the National Cancer Institute.Local victories are feeding the momentum. New York City’s mayoral race saw Zohran Mamdani win on a platform that includes taxing the rich to fund affordable housing, groceries and transit. Councilmember Chi Ossé led a 1,500‑person march to the state capitol, urging Governor Kathy Hochul to permit a city‑level millionaire tax, a move that now has backing from some state Democrats.Beyond New York, states like Rhode Island, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois and New Mexico are debating various wealth‑tax mechanisms, including the popular “mansion tax” on high‑value home sales. Currently, **17 localities** have adopted such taxes, most passed between 2018 and 2023.California’s gubernatorial race has become a flashpoint. Billionaire‑backed candidates Matt Mahan and Tom Steyer are vying to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, with the tech elite—such as Sergey Brin and Joe Lonsdale—pouring money into campaigns opposing the billionaire tax. Of the 30 billionaires who have contributed to the race, **25 supported Mahan**, who has positioned himself as a staunch anti‑tax candidate.For Sanchez, the stakes are personal. The proposed tax seeks to replace **$100 billion** in federal health‑care funding cut by Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which threatens hospital closures and layoffs in the nation’s fourth‑largest economy. She aims to collect **875,000 signatures** by late June to secure the initiative on the November ballot.“It’s creating a network of groups all working toward a common good,” Sanchez says, reflecting a broader sentiment that collective action could finally translate the public’s demand for fiscal fairness into concrete policy.

The recent statements and actions by the US, particularly by President Donald Trump, have raised serious concerns about potential war crimes under international law. During a national address, Trump warned that if Iran did not reach a deal with him, the US would target Iranian electric-generating plants and reduce the country to the 'stone ages.'Legal experts and human rights organizations have strongly criticized these threats. Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International's senior director of research, advocacy, policy and campaigns, emphasized that intentionally attacking civilian infrastructure, such as power plants, is generally prohibited under international law. Such actions could cause disproportionate harm to civilians and are considered unlawful and potentially war crimes.More than 100 US experts in international law from prestigious universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, have expressed similar concerns. They highlighted Trump's comments, including the statement that the US may conduct strikes on Iran 'just for fun,' and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remarks about not fighting with 'stupid rules of engagement.'The experts and legal experts point to the principle of distinction in international humanitarian law, which requires parties to avoid targeting civilian objects. Article 52 of the Geneva Conventions defines civilian objects as those that are not military objectives, and it is a war crime to intentionally direct attacks against them if they are not military objectives.Human rights organizations and experts warn that targeting Iran's power plants would have a devastating impact on the civilian population, affecting hospitals, water supplies, and other vital needs. Sarah Yager, Washington director of Human Rights Watch, noted that such actions would be catastrophic for the Iranian people.

Marks & Spencer has formally urged the UK government and London’s mayor to intensify efforts against retail crime, describing the problem as “more brazen, more organised and more aggressive” following a noticeable surge in shoplifting and violent incidents at its stores.Chief executive Stuart Machin addressed a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, while retail director Thinus Keeve wrote to Mayor Sadiq Khan, both demanding additional police resources to target repeat offenders and crime hotspots.Keeve detailed recent attacks on the M&S website, noting that “in the past week alone we have had gangs forcing open locked cabinets, stripping shelves, two men emptying steak displays, a large group ransacking a store and assaulting a security guard, a colleague head‑butted while trying to defuse a situation, and another hospitalised after ammonia was thrown in their face.”He warned that the situation is “worse in London, but it is happening across the country, and it is becoming routine, because it seems there are no consequences.”Police responded to reports of antisocial behaviour in Clapham, south London, where “several hundred young people” gathered after coordinating via TikTok and Snapchat. About 100 officers were deployed, fires were lit on Clapham Common and fireworks set off, and six teenage girls were arrested for incidents “fuelled by online trends”. Five people, including four officers, were assaulted.Mayor Khan condemned the Clapham events as “utterly unacceptable”, pledging that “the culprits will face the full force of the law” and that police are working with social‑media platforms to curb viral content that encourages theft and violence.According to Keeve, the UK recorded roughly 5.5 million shoplifting incidents last year, not counting the “vast number that go unreported”. He added that “every day, more than 1,600 retail workers face violence or abuse,” characterising the trend as systemic and worsening.External affairs head Adam Hawksbee told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the rise in retail crime is affecting staff morale, with employees “worried about coming into work and nervous about the journey home.”Office for National Statistics data show that shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose to 519,381 in the year to September 2025, a 5% increase from the previous year’s 492,660, and remain just below the record 530,439 offences recorded in the year to March 2025.Keeve concluded that “without a government seriously cracking down on crime and a mayor that prioritises effective policing we are powerless. We need a stronger, faster and more consistent police response, using tools that already exist to target repeat offenders and crime hotspots, and far greater transparency on crime so the true scale and impact is understood.”

The United States has a long history of threatening to carpet bomb countries, with President Donald Trump recently warning Iran that he would bomb the country 'back to the stone ages.' This rhetoric is not new, as US leaders have made similar threats in the past.During his prime-time address to the nation, Trump said, referring to Iran: 'We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks, we're going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong.' Trump also said 'discussions are ongoing,' adding that the conflict could end over the same period.The current war on Iran began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched their attacks. Tehran hit back, targeting Israel and Gulf countries. More than 2,000 Iranians have been killed in the war so far. Thousands of civilian sites, including hospitals, schools, universities, and pharmaceutical factories, have been attacked by Israel and the US.Janina Dill, a global security professor at the University of Oxford, told Al Jazeera that if Trump's 'stone ages' threat implies that the US will destroy structures and buildings that characterise a modern society, 'then this would be illegal because it implies directing attacks against civilian objects.'The phrase 'bombing back to the stone ages' is widely associated with US Air Force officer Curtis LeMay, in the context of US threats against North Vietnam in LeMay's 1965 book, Mission with LeMay. LeMay wrote: 'We're going to bomb them back into the Stone Age.'The US carried out intensive bombing in South Vietnam, as well as in Cambodia and Laos, claiming to target enemy bases and supply routes. Overall, millions of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded in the war.In January 1991, the US led a global coalition to force out Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Former US Secretary of State James Baker threatened that the US would bomb Iraq 'back to the Stone Age' if it did not withdraw from Kuwait.During World War II, the US carpet bombed Japanese cities, as well as cities in Asia that were controlled by Japanese forces. During the Korean War, the US carried out heavy bombing in North Korea, which some officials said destroyed almost every town.

Jaume Guardeno, a 23‑year‑old rider for the Spanish Caja Rural‑RGA squad, was airlifted to Hospital Taulí in Sabadell on Tuesday after a training accident that ended in a collision with a car.The team confirmed that Guardeno suffered a serious head injury when his bike hit a stone, causing him to lose control and strike the vehicle. He was immediately transferred by helicopter to the intensive‑care unit, where he remains under close observation.Guardeno had just completed the Tour of Catalonia, finishing 29th, and previously placed 14th in last year’s Vuelta a España, marking him as a promising talent in Spanish road cycling.“We want to express all our support and strength to Jaume and his family during this time, wishing him a speedy and full recovery,” the Caja Rural‑RGA team statement read.In related cycling news, former Olympic champion Richard Carapaz announced that he has undergone surgery for a perineal condition ahead of the upcoming Giro d'Italia. The 32‑year‑old Ecuadorian, who won the Giro in 2019 and secured podium finishes in 2022 and 2023, said the procedure was handled "in the best possible way" and that he is now focused on recovery.Carapaz, a gold‑medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, missed the Tour de France and Vuelta a España last season due to illness. He aims to return to peak form in time to contest a fourth Giro podium.

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.

Former Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi has been seriously wounded in an apparent assassination attempt that killed his wife, as US-Israeli strikes continue to pound Iran for a fifth week.Iranian media on Thursday reported that Kharazi's home in Tehran was targeted the previous day in an air strike. The official was hospitalised with serious injuries, according to newspapers Shargh, Etemad and Ham Mihan.“We have seen what looks like an assassination attempt against the former foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi … We don’t know why he’s been targeted. He has been gravely wounded, and his wife was killed,” said Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall, reporting from Tehran.Air strikes were reported on Thursday across Iran, including in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz. Four people were reported killed in Larestan, in southern Iran.Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the armed forces’ unified command said Tehran will press on with the Middle East war until the US and Israel face “permanent regret and surrender”, the semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported.Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson of the Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, said US and Israeli assessments of Iran’s military capabilities were “incomplete” and that Tehran would step up its military actions, with “more crushing, broader and more destructive” attacks in store for its adversaries.The threat followed comments by US President Donald Trump that Washington would hit Iran “extremely hard” within weeks, although Iran was “essentially decimated” and the US was on track to achieve its military objectives.More than 1,340 people have been killed in Iran since the US and Israel launched joint air strikes on February 28. At least 24 people have been killed in Israel, as well as 13 US soldiers in the region.