live Iran-U.S.-Israel tensions rise after strikes and threats of retaliation- 31 March
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. fi...
Afghanistan is seeking Azerbaijan’s support to help secure its official participation in the upcoming United Nations COP31 global climate change conference, scheduled to be held in Türkiye, as Kabul looks to strengthen its engagement on climate diplomacy and technical cooperation.
The Director General of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, Matiulhaq Khalis, met with Ilham Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Afghanistan this week, where the two sides discussed climate change, participation in international conferences and the expansion of bilateral environmental cooperation, according to a statement issued by the agency.
Khalis urged Azerbaijan to coordinate with the Turkish government, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat and other relevant international bodies to pave the way for Afghanistan’s official participation in COP31. He stressed that Afghanistan’s presence at the conference is “a practical necessity” for addressing regional climate challenges, the statement said.
During the meeting, Khalis also thanked the Azerbaijani government for its diplomatic efforts during COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan in Baku in November 2024, noting that while Afghanistan was not formally invited, Baku’s support and cooperation were “commendable” and appreciated by the Afghan government.
The head of the National Environmental Protection Agency also called for deeper cooperation in technical areas such as environmental monitoring, air quality control, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and digital technologies. He further highlighted the need for collaboration on climate change adaptation projects, environmental awareness, and sustainable urban and rural planning.
The meeting also touched on the World Urban Forum, WUF13, which is scheduled to be hosted by Azerbaijan 17-22 May, 2026. Khalis said the agency has received an official invitation and expressed hope that Azerbaijan would facilitate the Afghan delegation’s participation, including support with visas, travel and logistical arrangements.
Ambassador Mammadov referred to the historical ties and friendly relations between the two countries, saying Azerbaijan understands Afghanistan’s environmental and climate challenges and aims to raise these issues in regional and international forums. He said Azerbaijan would work with relevant Turkish authorities, the UNFCCC secretariat and other institutions to explore possible avenues for Afghanistan’s participation in COP31 9-20 November, 2026 in Antalya.
Both sides agreed on the need to establish joint environmental working groups and a permanent coordination mechanism to ensure cooperation remains organised, practical and sustainable.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says around 25 kilometres of the TAPI gas pipeline have been laid in Herat province, as work continues on one of the region’s largest energy projects.
Three Armenian citizens have been charged following an alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at St Anna Cathedral in Yerevan on 29 March. Analysts say the incident reflects rising tensions between the government and the Church ahead of upcoming elections.
A man previously convicted of spying on Türkiye has been arrested by Turkish and Syrian authorities after more than a decade on the run, Turkish security sources said on Monday.
Uzbekistan is hosting the fifth-anniversary Space Technology Conference - Central Eurasia (STC 2026), bringing together more than 400 delegates, 24 sponsors and representatives from 32 countries to discuss the region’s space industry and expand international cooperation.
Kazakhstan remains among the least dependent countries in Central Asia on Chinese capital, maintaining a diversified external debt structure and greater financial flexibility than its regional peers.
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