What we know on Day 31 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

Even as regional leaders scramble to find diplomatic off-ramps to the war, the main players – Israel, the US and Iran – are doubling down on their positions.

President Donald Trump has claimed Iran is almost ready for a deal, even as Tehran warns it will "rain fire" on American troops if they launch a ground invasion.

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Here's what to know on Day 31.

What are the main headlines?

• Washington's demands: President Trump said Iran had agreed to "most of" the 15-point list of demands that the US conveyed to end the war. He claimed that Iran has given the US "20 boatloads of oil" that will be shipped on Monday to "prove they're serious."

• Iran's warning: Iran's parliament speaker accused the US of "secretly planning a ground invasion" while floating negotiations, and said Tehran's forces are "waiting" for US troops. The USS Tripoli — carrying 3,500 US service members — has arrived in the Middle East, after CNN reported earlier this month that a Marine Expeditionary Unit would be deployed. Such units have traditionally been used for missions that require ship-to-shore movements.

• Iran's oil: In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump raised the prospect of the US taking Iran's oil, saying that would be his "favorite thing." He also told FT he is still considering whether to seize Iran's Kharg Island, a key fuel hub, adding that US forces would likely need to remain there for an extended period.

• Diplomatic efforts: Pakistan says it is prepared to host talks between the US and Iran "in coming days," after what it called a "very productive" meeting with leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to discuss efforts to de-escalate the war.

• Iran's assertion: A senior Iranian security official told CNN that Tehran will determine when the war ends — pushing back on US assessments that the conflict could be wrapped up within weeks.

• Energy costs: Oil prices climbed after Tehran's warning against any US ground invasion, with Brent crude rising 2.47% to $107.92. Asian stocks fell on Monday.

What's happening on the ground?

• Regional strikes: An Indian worker was killed in Kuwait on Monday after a building was damaged in an Iranian attack, reported Kuwait News Agency. Meanwhile, Israel said early Monday it had intercepted two drones from Yemen, after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels waded into the conflict for the first time since it began. This comes after Israel's military carried out strikes on the Iranian capital Tehran late Sunday, claiming it is just days away from hitting all the targets in Iran that it classifies a "top priority."

• Lebanon border: Israel is pushing further into southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are exchanging fire with Hezbollah. Israeli forces are occupying the land south of the Litani River, an area it has called on Lebanese civilians to evacuate. Human rights workers have warned that Israel's demolition of river crossings will cut off tens of thousands of Lebanese residents from "essential lifelines."

• US aircraft destroyed: An Iranian strike on an air base in Saudi Arabia appears to have destroyed a vital US Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft. Images of the wrecked aircraft began appearing on social media over the weekend, which CNN geolocated to the Prince Sultan Air Base. CNN has previously reported that an attack on the air base left at least 10 US service members injured, with no fatalities reported.

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March 29, 2026

What we know on Day 31 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

Even as regional leaders scramble to find diplomatic off-ramps to the war, the main players – Israel, the US and Iran – a...

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S.Korea exports to rise most in nearly 5 years, imports also higher on Mideast conflict: Reuters poll

By Jihoon Lee

SEOUL, March 30 (Reuters) - South Korea's March exports probably rose at the strongest pace in nearly five years on a ‌boom in chip demand fuelled byartificial intelligenceinvestment, although the ‌Iran war was set to drive up imports and inflation, a Reuters poll showed on ​Monday.

Exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy, a bellwether for global trade, were projected to have risen 44.9% from a year earlier, according to a median forecast of 11 economists.

That would be faster than the 28.7% rise in February and the strongest ‌since May 2021. It ⁠would also mark the 10th consecutive month of year-on-year gains.

"Semiconductor prices are continuing to rise sharply on robust demand for ⁠memory chips," said Chun Kyu-yeon, an economist at Hana Securities, expecting this year's trade surpluses at record levels.

In the first 20 days of this month, exports rose ​50.4%, as ​semiconductor sales surged 163.9%. Shipments to ​the U.S. and China rose 57.8% ‌and 69.0%, respectively, while those to the European Union were up 6.6%.

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"However, due to the impact of high oil prices, import growth will also be higher than previously projected," said Park Sang-hyun, an economist at iM Securities. "It is expected that there will be some disruption to shipments to the Middle ‌East."

In Monday's monthly survey, imports were forecast to ​have risen 18.0% in March from a ​year earlier, after growing 7.5% ​in February. That would mark the biggest jump since September ‌2022.

The median forecast for the country's ​monthly trade balance stood ​at $21.2 billion, wider than $15.4 billion in the previous month and a record high.

Consumer inflation probably accelerated in March to 2.4%, the fastest pace ​in four months. Inflation ‌was 2.0% in February.

South Korea is scheduled to report trade figures ​for March on Wednesday, April 1, at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT).

(Reporting by ​Jihoon Lee; Editing by Kate Mayberry)

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March 29, 2026

S.Korea exports to rise most in nearly 5 years, imports also higher on Mideast conflict: Reuters poll

By Jihoon Lee SEOUL, March 30 (Reuters) - South Korea's March exports probably rose at the strongest pace ...

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A youth-led push for change threatens Orbán’s 16-year rule in Hungary's elections

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A group of friends in their mid-20s campaigned door to door last week in a small Hungarian city, supporting a political movement that soon could end Prime MinisterViktor Orbán's 16-year grip on power.

Hungary Youth Vote

The young men fromHungary'sLake Balaton region were volunteering for the center-right Tisza party and its leader, Péter Magyar, and campaigning to move past what they described as Orbán's broken system.

"We've lived our whole lives in this system, and we want to see what it could be like outside of it," said Florián Végh, a 25-year-old student. "I can say on behalf of my fellow university students and my friends that this system is absolutely dysfunctional."

A generational gap is widening, with Hungary's youth pushing overwhelmingly for an end toOrbán's autocratic rulewhile the oldest citizens remain loyal to the prime minister — a split that could be a decisive factor in the April 12 elections.

Orbán, 62, trails in the polls behind Magyar, a 45-year-old lawyer who broke with Orbán's nationalist-populist Fidesz party over a political scandal in 2024. He has led Tisza on arapid political rise, inspiring a voting cohort that had largely avoided politics for at least two decades.

Fidesz's declining popularity during economic stagnation and political and corruption scandals has widened the demographic divide. A recent survey by pollster 21 Research Center found that 65% of voters under 30 support Tisza, while 14% are backing Orbán.

Changing of the guard

One Tisza volunteer, 24-year-old student Levente Koltai, pointed out that Fidesz is an acronym in Hungarian for "Alliance of Young Democrats." But he believes the party no longer lives up to its name.

"Fidesz has lost the title of young, democratic and alliance," he told The Associated Press. "It's gone from young to old, from democratic to tending toward dictatorial, and from an alliance to a circle of cronies."

Andrea Szabó, a senior researcher with Eötvös Loránd University's Institute for Political Science in Budapest, said a changing of the guard was emerging in Hungary, where "a new, active political generation is beginning to unfold before our eyes."

While Orbán's political generation was defined by its fight against Hungary's Soviet-era socialist system in the 1980s and 1990s, "now, we have reached the point where after 25 years, there is a new political generation that is against the Orbán regime," Szabó said.

'Illiberal' drift toward Russia and China

Orbán's government defines itself as both Christian-national and "illiberal," and has drifted away from partners in the European Union in favor ofcloser relations with Russiaand China.

Long accused by critics of taking over Hungary's institutions,clamping down on press freedomand overseeing entrenchedpolitical corruption— charges he denies — Orbán has become an icon in the globalfar-right movement.

Admirers approve of his opposition to immigration andcurtailing of LGBTQ+ rights, and applaud benefits to young families such as abolishing income tax for mothers with multiple children and providing state-backed loans to first-time homebuyers.

Such policies, as well as a pension supplement for retirees, appeal to many older voters. Fidesz leads Tisza 50% to 19% among retirement-age Hungarians, according to the 21 Research Center Poll.

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Zsuzsanna Prépos, a retiree, said at one of Orbán's recent campaign rallies that she was "very happy" with the government's pension policies, and that she's supporting Fidesz because it "helps young people."

"When I was young ... I didn't get anything. Now young people have a lot of help," she said.

Yet such measures have not translated into youth support for Orbán. In several recent speeches, he has both scolded young people for their anti-government attitudes and pleaded with them to reconsider.

"Young people, wake up!" he said at a rally last week. "These are not times for taking risks, experimenting or trying new things. ... Believe me, today only Fidesz and my humble self can provide this country with security."

Szabó, the researcher, said while many young people view Orbán's family support policies positively, their "very strong sense of justice" is incompatible with "the authoritarian exercise of power, the corruption, the fact that they feel vulnerable and that there is insecurity in the country."

"Their lives essentially took place entirely within the Orbán regime, so they know nothing other than this kind of functioning of power," she said.

Tisza's rise

Recent events in Hungary have turned large numbers of youth against the ruling party.

Hungary was rocked by scandal in February 2024 when it was revealed that the president, a close Orbán ally, had granted a pardon to an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case. The revelationshocked the country, and the president and justice ministerresigned.

Days later, some of the country's best-known influencers led aprotestdemanding a political transformation. Drawing tens of thousands, it marked a turning point which "opened the door to politicization for a lot of young people," Szabó said.

In the wake of the pardon scandal, Magyar broke with Fidesz and launched Tisza. Three months later, the party won 30% of the vote in European Parliament elections.

Magyar has built his campaign on promises to end Orbán's drift toward Russia andrestore Hungary's Western orientation, and to revive the stagnating economy by recovering billions in EU funds that areblocked over rule-of-lawand corruption concerns.

That economic message has resonated with youth. Végh, the Tisza volunteer, said it's easier than ever for his internet-savvy generation to access different forms of information, and to travel to nearby countries where governments are putting public money to good use.

"In Austria, you see a much calmer, more peaceful, more educated society with better roads and better health care," he said. "You cross the border and see that you have drifted into a developed European country."

Although Tisza leads in the polls, its victory is far from assured. Orbán has a lead among older voters and in much of the countryside.

At a recent rally in Budapest that drew upward of 100,000 people, Tisza supporter Dorina Csobán said the election battle had become "pretty divisive in my family for the older people, because we younger people are saying clearly that there must be change."

byAdministrator

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March 29, 2026

A youth-led push for change threatens Orbán’s 16-year rule in Hungary's elections

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A group of friends in their mid-20s campaigned door to door last week in a small Hungarian city,...

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Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30 points and finishes strong as Thunder beat Knicks 111-100

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New York Knicks 111-100 on Sunday night.

Knicks Thunder Basketball

Gilgeous-Alexander was 5 of 15 from the floor in the first three quarters, but drained all three of his shots in the fourth. He made 13 of 16 free throws overall to help him extend his NBA record for consecutive games with at least 20 points to 135.

Jalen Williams scored 22 points for the Thunder, shooting 7 of 11 from the floor and making all seven of his free throws. An All-Star last year, he appears to be rounding into form. He missed the first 19 games of the season with a wrist injury, then later missed 26 with a strained right hamstring.

Chet Holmgren added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who won for the 14th time in 15 games. Oklahoma City (59-16) leads San Antonio (56-18) by 2 1/2 games in the race for the league's best record with eight remaining.

The Knicks are in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, 2 1/2 games behind the Boston Celtics for second with eight games to play. But the Thunder outscored them 31-13 from the free-throw line.

Jalen Brunson scored 32 points for the Knicks on 13-for-22 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns added 15 points and 18 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost their second straight after a seven-game winning streak.

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Josh Hart's deep 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer cut Oklahoma City's lead to 53-52.

A steal and layup by Williams gave the Thunder a 59-54 lead in the third quarter and excited the crowd. Oklahoma City took an 84-78 lead into the fourth. New York cut its deficit to a point in the final period, but never took the lead.

Up next

Knicks: Visit the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

Thunder: Host the Detroit Pistons on Monday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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March 29, 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30 points and finishes strong as Thunder beat Knicks 111-100

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and the Oklahoma City ...

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Michigan, Illinois open as Final Four favorites, but Arizona for title

UConn's dramatic last-second upset of Duke on Sunday played right into the hands of Arizona and Michigan, at least in the eyes of oddsmakers.

The two remaining No. 1 seeds will do battle in Saturday night's second Final Four matchup in Indianapolis, and the winner is expected to be heavily favored to win the national title.

Michigan opened as a 1.5-point favorite to beat Arizona at BetMGM. The Wolverines have blitzed through their first four opponents, winning by an average of 22.5 points en route to the Final Four. Their closest game was a 13-point win over Alabama in the Sweet 16 before a 33-point dismantling of No. 6 seed Tennessee on Sunday.

The Wildcats were tested a bit in the Elite 8 before handling Purdue, and have won their first four games by an average of 20.5 points.

Ironically, while the Wildcats are underdogs on Saturday night they are the favorites to win the national title.

By the time Arizona and Michigan take the court at Lucas Oil Stadium, the first half of the title game will have been decided.

Braylon Mullins' 35-foot heave just before the buzzer on Sunday put the Huskies in a Final Four showdown against Illinois. The Huskies are in their third Final Four in the past four years, but the Fighting Illini were installed as 1.5-point favorites.

The third-seeded Illini have enjoyed a convincing run to Indianapolis, with their closest victory a comfortable 10-point win over Houston in the Sweet 16. No. 9 seed Iowa kept their Elite 8 matchup interesting until Illinois pulled away for a 12-point victory on Saturday.

UConn has had the most dramatic run to the Final Four, and that was even before Mullins' heroics on Sunday. The Huskies had to survive a four-point win over No. 3 seed Michigan State in the East Region to set the stage for the matchup against Duke, which the Blue Devils led by 19 points during the first half.

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The Huskies will enter Saturday as the higher seed, but they opened as underdogs against the Illini and with the longest title odds among the remaining four teams. Illinois has the shortest odds to reach the title game at -135, followed by Michigan (-120), UConn (-110) and Arizona (-105).

But it's also clear that oddsmakers believe the winner of the clash of No. 1 seeds will enter the title game as significant favorites to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.

NATIONAL TITLE ODDS*

Arizona Wildcats (+165)

Michigan Wolverines (+180)

Illinois Fighting Illini (+475)

UConn Huskies (+550)

--Field Level Media

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March 29, 2026

Michigan, Illinois open as Final Four favorites, but Arizona for title

UConn's dramatic last-second upset of Duke on Sunday played right into the hands of Arizona and Michigan, at least...

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Hall of Fame Award of Character: Detroit educator Dr. Isaiah ‘Ike’ McKinnon turns pain into purpose

Courage. Integrity. Commitment. Honesty. Respect.

Those are the values enshrined in Canton. But you don't need a gold jacket to live them.

Through its Award of Character, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in partnership with USA TODAY, honors teachers, nurses, coaches, firefighters, police officers and veterans whose impact on their communities rivals that of the game's greatest legends.

This month's honoree is Dr. Isaiah "Ike" McKinnon, a Michigan instructor whose life of service spans nearly five decades — and whose journey transformed personal trauma into a lifelong mission of fairness, justice and healing in Detroit.

A surprise visit and a lifetime of recognition

"What the heck?"

That was Dr. McKinnon's first reaction when Hall of Fame representatives arrived at his home.

Waiting for him were Jarrett Payton, son of Hall of Famer Walter Payton, and Hall of Fame linebacker Dave Robinson, there to deliver an unexpected honor.

"We are here on behalf of the Pro Football Hall of Fame," Payton told him. "To present you with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Award of Character, in partnership with USA TODAY."

The moment was overwhelming.

"Oh my God," McKinnon said repeatedly, visibly stunned. "You're going to give me a heart attack."

Robinson handed him the award — heavy in both weight and meaning — a symbol of values McKinnon has lived by for most of his life.

From injustice to intention

McKinnon's path to service was forged in pain.

At just 14 years old, he was beaten by Detroit police officers in 1957. The experience could have driven him away from the profession forever. Instead, it pushed him toward it.

"I made myself a promise that night," he said. "I was going to become a police officer — because I saw things that shouldn't happen to anybody."

Years later, during the 1967 Detroit uprising, that promise was tested again. While driving home in uniform, McKinnon was pulled over by fellow officers, guns drawn, who threatened his life.

"There was never an investigation," he said. "Nothing was ever done."

Still, he stayed.

Older officers, Black and white, encouraged him not to quit. And he listened.

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"There was no way I was going to leave," McKinnon said.

Earning trust, one person at a time

McKinnon devoted his life to Detroit, first as a police officer, later as chief, deputy mayor, professor and coach.

He earned degrees while working full time, eventually becoming a respected educator and mentor. He worked long hours, often 14 to 16 hours a day, determined to rebuild trust between police and the communities they served.

One moment, early in his career, stayed with him forever.

After chasing a suspect into a building, McKinnon found himself facing armed men with assault rifles. As tensions escalated, members of the surrounding community intervened.

"Let Officer Ike go," they said. "He treats us fairly."

The armed men backed away.

"That reaffirmed everything I believed," McKinnon said. "Being a good person matters."

A legacy beyond titles

McKinnon could have chosen bitterness. Few would have blamed him.

Instead, he chose grace.

"He fought against all the odds to make the world better, not just for himself, but for everyone," one colleague said. "That's an incredible leap of human dignity."

Even now, years after leaving office, McKinnon is recognized throughout Detroit. Former students, young officers and community members still stop him to say thank you.

"That's a good feeling," he said. "Detroit is a big, small town."

Words for the next generation

As Hall of Fame players do when they're enshrined, McKinnon was asked to offer advice that might live on.

His message was simple and unwavering.

"You have to stand up for what's right," he said. "And stand against what's wrong. If you don't, who's going to make that difference?"

It's a philosophy that carried him through hardship, leadership and decades of service, and one that now earns him a permanent place among the Hall of Fame's Awards of Character honorees.

This article was created in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dr. Ike McKinnon honored with Hall of Fame character award

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March 29, 2026

Hall of Fame Award of Character: Detroit educator Dr. Isaiah ‘Ike’ McKinnon turns pain into purpose

Courage. Integrity. Commitment. Honesty. Respect. Those are the values enshrined in Canton. But you don't n...

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Oil jumps, stocks slide ahead of U.S. stock market open as Iran war rounds one month

Global oil prices jumped and U.S. stock futures slid ahead of Monday's market open after the weekend sawIran-backed Houthi militantslaunch ballistic missiles at Israel and 3,500additional U.S. troopsarrivein the Middle Eastas the conflict rounded one month.

Advanced trades on the three major U.S. stock indexes were down as much as 0.5% at 10:20 p.m. ET Sunday. Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, surged 3% to more than $116 a barrel, the highest level since the conflict started, while U.S. crude climbed 3% to nearly $103 a barrel.

Investorshave begun to questionPresident Donald Trump's ability to assuage markets without material progress on the ground.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that the U.S. "will make a deal" with Iran and that negotiations between the two countries are going well.

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"I think we'll make a deal with them, pretty sure, but it's possible we won't," he told reporters. He later said a deal could come "soon."

Trump also told reporters that Iran "gave us most of" a15-point planthe U.S. sent Tehran to end the war, something Iran has yet to publicly confirm, and that 20 boatloads of oil — on top of 10 the previous week — will be passing through the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday "out of a sign of respect."

Trump separatelytold The Financial Timeson Sunday that an Iran deal could be made "fairly quickly" and that he wants to "take the oil in Iran."

Average U.S. gasoline prices hit $3.98 a gallon Sunday, according to AAA, the highest since the summer of 2022. A newBloomberg News reportsaid U.S. government officials and Wall Street analysts had begun considering the prospect that oil prices could surge to as much as $200 a barrel as the largest oil shock in decades continues to reverberate.

Patrick De Haan, chief analyst at Gas Buddy, estimates that later this week, U.S. drivers will have spent an additional $10 billion on gasoline since the conflict beganone month ago.

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March 29, 2026

Oil jumps, stocks slide ahead of U.S. stock market open as Iran war rounds one month

Global oil prices jumped and U.S. stock futures slid ahead of Monday's market open after the weekend sawIran-backed H...

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